The four endorsed Republican candidates -- Stephanie Kunze, Kelly McGivern, Brett Sciotto and Jim Ashenhurst -- all earned city council terms while Democratic challenger Meagan Pandey was left on the outside looking in.

The winners join fellow Republicans Al Iosue, Tim Roberts and Dan Nichter on the GOP-dominated city council. Current Mayor Don Schonhardt is also a Republican.

Kunze, a political newcomer whose candidacy was challenged after she won the May primary election, was once again the top vote-getter. Kunze's candidacy was questioned because of her status as a classified public employee of the Hilliard City School District. Following a review by Republican party officials, Kunze was ruled an eligible candidate. She then resigned her position as a secretary at Norwich Elementary School to focus on her city council campaign.

With 21 of 21 precincts reporting, Kunze led all candidates with 4,475 votes followed by McGivern with 4,343 votes, Sciotto with 4,216 votes and Ashenhurst with 3,969 votes.

Pandey finished a distant fifth with 2,568 votes.

Kunze, 38, is a member of the Hilliard Area Republican Club, Capital Area Republican Women, Hoffman Trails PTO member, and holds a bachelor's degree in English from Indiana University. She ran on a platform that emphasized bringing a family perspective to city council.

Ashenhurst, McGivern and Sciotto were all incumbent city council members.

McGivern, 42, is the president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Health Plans, and is a former government-affairs executive for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. She holds a bachelor's degree in education from the Ohio State University.

Sciotto, 36, the current city council president, is president/CEO of Governing Dynamic, LLC, a Columbus-based public consulting firm. He is also the chairman of city council's Community and Economic Development committee. Sciotto is a former Army intelligence officer with the 101st Airborne Division, and holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Ashenhurst, 63, served for 24 years in the U.S. Army, and retired as a colonel. He also served as field coordinator for the Ohio Department of Public Safety (1999-2007), and worked on the Bob Taft for Governor campaign in 1998. Ashenhurst holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from the State University of New York and is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

Pandey, 30, the lone Democrat to seek election to city council, holds a bachelor's degree in history from the Ohio State University. She formerly worked for Dublin-based Rascal Unit Ltd.

The four vacancies on city council exist for a variety of reasons. Council vice president William Uttley cannot seek re-election because of term limits. Former council member Kim Allison chose not to seek re-election and resigned prior to the end of her term. Ashenhurst was appointed to fill the final six months of her term. Sciotto won a second term on council, and McGivern, who was appointed to fill former councilman Mike Cope's unexpired term, was elected for the first time. Cope resigned when he was elected to the Norwich Township Board of Trustees.