A California transplant who wants to preserve Clermont’s tranquil atmosphere won a special election on Tuesday, March 20, the claim the Town Council’s Ward 1 seat.

Cynthia “Cyndy” Shubert-Jett defeated Eric Thomas by a 30-27 vote in replacing Robin Brown, who resigned from the council in December, citing personal reasons.

“The easy part’s over,” said the political newcomer on winning. “Now the hard work starts.”

Shubert-Jett’s term will begin Monday, March 26, and end Dec. 31, 2019.

She will complete a four-year term started by Thomas on Jan. 1, 2016. Thomas, who quit the post in May 2016, has said some council members “had issues” with him at the time and he wanted to return to office to “take care of some issues the town’s got.”

Shubert-Jett, 64, a retired social services worker, said she wants to help “maintain team building” on the council.

“Moving forward together is going to continue to be the priority,” she said. “I am serving in the best interest of my ward and my city, and I’ll do it by team building and not being divisive.”

Her swearing-in will take place at the next Clermont Town Council meeting at 7 p.m. April 3, town clerk Sandra Helton said.

In a February interview, Shubert-Jett compared Clermont to San Marcos, Calif., where she spent much of her childhood. The town east of Camp Pendleton was sleepy during her early life but has exploded in growth over the past few decades.

“I don’t want to see (Clermont’s charm) go away,” Shubert-Jett said.  “... I want to be involved. I want to see what’s going on where I live.”