Tuesday marked the end of a 16-year era for one Brundidge resident, but for another, it was just the beginning.

District 5 long-time council woman Isabell Boyd lost to her first-time opponent Steven Coleman in Tuesday’s election runoff. Coleman won with 152 total votes to Boyd’s 118.

“I’m excited. All the hard work that we put in finally paid off,” Coleman said. “This change has been forthcoming, and it’s just the beginning.”

Boyd could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

The District 5 runoff was promted after some initial confustion of the vote count in the Aug. 26 election

Coleman believed originally he had one and the following day, officials realized absentee ballot totals were not included.

came after the city’s residents initially believed Coleman was the winner of the Aug. 26 election, but later the race was declared a tie with absentee ballot totals included.

“I want to start off by saying thank you to District 5 for coming out again and supporting me,” Coleman said. “I know we asked a lot of you having to go through this process two times, but every time you rose to the occasion, and I’m going to fight just as hard as you fought for me down in city hall.”

Of the District 5’s 325 registered voters , 189 came to the polls Tuesday to cast their votes, and another 81 voted absentee.

Election Manager Britt Thomas said only 55 of the district’s registered voters did not vote in the election.

“That’s a big turnout for sure,” Thomas said.

Election Inspector Larry Tatom, in fact, said the voting percentage was something “unheard of” to him.

Coleman will be certified as District 5 Councilman next Tuesday at 9 a.m. at Brundidge City Hall.

He will not officially take office until Nov. 3, when he and all other council winners will begin their next term with an organizational meeting.

“I want to take my hat off to my opponent Ms. Isabell Boyd,” Coleman said. “It was a hard fought battle, but in the end the people decided they wanted change for the community, and it was up to them to choose the best candidate for the position.”