CEDAR FALLS - Newcomer Jim Brown will join veterans Deon Senchina and Susan Lantz on the Cedar Falls Board of Education later this month.

Brown, who runs a sales and marketing business from his home, earned 726, or nearly 24 percent, of the votes in Cedar Falls. Incumbents Lantz and Senchina secured 913 and 871 votes respectively. The fourth challenger, Jim Hughes, captured 487 votes. Another 37 write-in votes were counted, for a total of 3,034 ballots, or just 4.7 percent of all registered Cedar Falls voters.

Brown, who also ran for a spot on the board last year, was humbled by this year's nomination and excited for the next four years.

"I am expecting a huge learning curve, but like the others, I have a vested interest in continuing the tradition of education in Cedar Falls," said Brown.

In addition to learning more about school budgets, the Iowa Core Curriculum and other education-related hot topics, Brown is also looking forward to hearing what his neighbors and fellow Cedar Falls residents expect from their schools.

"I don't think there will be any sweeping changes to the district because I am on the board, but I hope to be able to listen to these folks and convey their message to the board and the teachers," he said.

Lantz, a homemaker and former teacher, said she welcomes Brown to the board much like she was welcomed five years ago.

"A new face is a good thing. He will bring a fresh perspective to our board," she said.

Both Lantz and Senchina, who was elected to her eighth school board term Tuesday, look forward to the upcoming term and the opportunities and challenges it will bring.

"Regardless of the challenges ahead, our focus on the students of this district will not change," Senchina said.