Come January, for the first time in 30 years, Sheila-Marie Untiedt will not hold a seat on the Stillwater Township Board.

Untiedt was defeated Tuesday by Mike McMahon Jr., who served on the town board from 2018-2022, by a vote of 550 to 538, in the race for Seat 4.

Sheila-Marie Untiedt, left, was defeated Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, for a seat on the Stillwater Township Board after serving for 30 years. Mike McMahon Jr. won Seat 4 by a vote of 550 to 538, a 12-vote margin. (Courtesy of the candidates)

McMahon Jr. said he decided to challenge Untiedt because he has a “a deep feeling that people that have been in public service for so long need to be challenged from time to time, but I have so much respect for Sheila-Marie that she’s been on the board and served our community the way she has for so long.”

McMahon Jr. said other township residents encouraged him to run.

“There wasn’t any one particular issue other than I’m really passionate about (Accessory Dwelling Units) and figuring out ways for people in our community who are aging to have the ability to either have short-term rentals or have health-care workers live on their property as they age. I feel like the planning commission doesn’t really understand all of those things, and I just feel like they need a little more direction, and I’d like to provide that.”

Untiedt, 64, a mediator, said she will miss serving the public and will perhaps one day run again. “I love the township,” she said. “I love the open space and the nature and how it’s pitch black at night and the frogs – the deer, not so much. It’s charming. It’s like Mayberry R.F.D.”

Untiedt said she is proud of her years on the board and believes that she is leaving the township in “excellent condition.”

“We have very good staff, we have excellent financials and we’ve got good consultants,” she said.

Supervisor Tim Sinclair said Untiedt’s years of experience and leadership will be missed.

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“She was always willing to take charge,” he said. “We’ve dealt with some difficult things over the last couple of years, as with a lot of townships, and there’ve been difficult decisions, but she’s always put the township first and put the people and the township ahead of anything else. I can’t say enough about her leadership. It’s going to leave a big hole.”

Sinclair, who ran unopposed for Seat 5, won re-election to the board.

Anna Buehler won the race for Seat 3 with almost 40% of the vote, with competitors Tina Riehle and Jack Soukup receiving about 34% and almost 26% of the vote, respectively.