Editor's note: This story has been updated to include comments from Deno Hondros.
Political newcomer Deno Hondros defeated first-term Councilwoman Yvonne Kinston on Tuesday for the District 9 seat on the Fayetteville City Council, according to unofficial returns.
Hondros received 911 votes; Kinston received 804, according to unofficial returns with the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
Hondros, 45, is a commercial real estate broker. He could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
On Wednesday, Hondros thanked his family and his team for their work on the campaign.
“We all put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears,’’ he said. “It was truly a team effort.’’
He also expressed his thanks to voters. “Without them, this would not have happened,’’ he said.
Kinston, 53, was first elected to the City Council in 2019. She is a sales and service agent for AT&T and executive vice president of the 530-member Communications Workers of America Local 3680 branch.
“I am proud of the race I ran. I’m proud of the work that has been accomplished,’’ she said Tuesday night.
Kinston said she called Hondros to congratulate him.
During the campaign, both candidates said transparency and public safety were among their top issues.
Kinston said that when she was elected to the council there were things that she wanted to accomplish. “And I think we’ve done that,’’ she said.
When asked if she might consider running for the seat again, she said: “I’m going to take a pause on that and we’ll see.’’
She said she may find other ways to serve the community.
“You ain’t seen the last of Yvonne Y. Kinston,’’ she said.
