A new face is joining the Dowagiac City Council, as Dowagiac business owner Patrick Bakeman defeated incumbent Lori Hunt to win the city’s 1st Ward seat during Tuesday’s citywide election, according to unofficial results from the Cass County Clerk/Register Office.

Bakeman won with a total of 81 votes, compared to Hunt’s 43 votes. Bakeman will join five others, including fellow 1st Ward councilmember Danielle Lucas, on the city council.

The 1st Ward seat was the only contested race Tuesday. Councilmembers Bob Schuur, of the city’s 2nd Ward, and Mayor Pro Tem Leon Laylin, of the 3rd Ward, both ran uncontested.

Mayor Don Lyons also ran without opposition for his sixth four-year term in office. He will serve his 21st year in office beginning in January.

Treasurer Latoi Wilson was re-elected to office, and also ran unopposed. She has served in the position since her appointment to replace retired Treasurer Robin Coffey in April.

Bakeman, 38, is the owner of Dowagiac’s Bakeman Barbers, located at the intersection of Division and Front streets downtown. The lifelong resident of Dowagiac has owned the business since 2005.

He is also the vice chair of the Young Professionals of Greater Dowagiac, a member of Dowagiac Lions Club and the play-by-play announcer for Dowagiac Chieftain football team.

He and his wife, Ravan, have three children. This was Bakeman’s first candidacy for political office.

Hunt, 47, was running for her fourth term as 1st Ward councilmember.

She was first appointed to the council in June 2007 to replace outgoing councilmember Donna O’Konski, and was elected in November 2007 to serve out the rest of the term. She was re-elected in November 2009 and November 2013.

Hunt has two children, and currently works for Dowagiac’s Living Alternatives for the Developmentally Disabled, a nonprofit that assists people living with mental or physical disabilities.