Several new faces won seats on the City Council and School Committee on Tuesday, while local voters approved three bond issues totaling $18.2 million.

As the attention of many across the state was focused on the races for governor and Providence mayor, Cranston voters faced a full slate of candidates and ballot questions, including contests for all but a handful of seats on the both the council and committee.

Democrats will maintain their majority on the council, holding a 6-3 edge after Republicans picked up one seat.

In the race for three citywide seats, incumbents Council Vice President Michael Farina and Council President John Lanni topped the field with 12,199 and 11,228 voters, respectively.

Richard Santamaria, the third Democrat in the race and current Ward 5 councilman, won the third citywide seat with 10,097 votes.

Former Republican councilman Jim Donahue received 9,711 to finish fourth, and Republicans Dolores DiMeo-Carroll and Nick Lima rounded out the field with 9,581 and 9,202 votes, respectively.

“We had a good campaign. We worked hard, in victory and defeat, we put our hearts and souls into this race, and I look forward to moving Cranston ahead,” Farina said during the Democratic election night gathering at 39 West.

In Ward 5, Republican Chris Paplauskas defeated Democrat Ralph Ciunci on a 2,573-2,203 vote for the seat being vacated by Santamaria. It is the first time in more than seven decades a Republican has won the seat.

“It’s a testament that hard work pays off,” Paplauskas said during a gathering of local candidates at Fung for Governor headquarters in Chapel View. “We made history.”

“This is one of the greatest accomplishments for the people of Cranston,” said Lima, who chairs the Cranston Republican City Committee, of Paplauskas’ win. “There is no one more deserving.”

In Ward 1, Councilman Steven Stycos overwhelmingly defeated Michael Glucksman, receiving 3,025 votes to the Republican challenger’s 1,165. In Ward 2, Republican Councilman Donald Botts fended off a challenge from Democrat Ted Jendzejec by a 2,055-1,808 margin.

Democratic Ward 4 Councilman Mario Aceto defeated Republican challenger Mark Collins by a 2,977-2,577 vote. In Ward 6, Republican Councilman Michael Favicchio defeated Democratic challenger Bernadetta Petrone by a 2,380-1,897 margin.

“It’s always difficult in Cranston as a Republican,” Favicchio said, calling Paplauskas’ victory a “big win.”

Democratic Ward 3 Councilman Paul Archetto ran for a new term without opposition, and received 2,272 votes.

For school committee, incumbent citywide representative Michael Traficante won a new term over challenger Kerri Kelleher on a 12,745-10,702 vote.

“She ran a formidable race. I know she had the support and work force of the BASICS members behind her. For a first time candidate, she did a great job,” Traficante said of his opponent.

In Ward 2, incumbent Stephanie Culhane defeated challenger Ed Angilly on a 2,053-1,324 vote. Domenic Fusco topped Richard Tomlins by a 1,347-1,005 margin to win the Ward 3 seat, which is being vacated by Paula McFarland.

“I’m still just taking it all in,” said Fusco, a newcomer to elected office. “I want to thank my family. They were phenomenal … I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Ward 5 incumbent Janice Ruggieri won a new term over challenger Jonathan Keith by a 3,080-1,102 margin. Dan Wall defeated Jay Rosenfield on a 2,298-1,688 vote to win the committee’s open Ward 6 seat, which is being vacated by current Chairwoman Andrea Iannazzi.

Jeff Gale received 3,049 votes as he ran without opposition for a new term representing Ward 1 on the committee. Trent Colford, unopposed in Ward 4, received 3,826 votes to win re-election.

Topping the local issues was Question 9, which asked voters to approve a $15 million bond for improvements to school buildings. It was approved on a 20,453-5,817 vote.

The bond – combined with remaining funds from a 2002 bond and another bond aimed at middle school repairs, for a total of more than $23 million – is meant to address a range of health and safety needs across the district’s more than two-dozen facilities. The projects, which range from floor repairs and Americans With Disabilities Act improvements to window replacement and sprinkler installation, stem from a review conducted by architectural firm Saccoccio and Associates.

Dr. Judith Lundsten, superintendent of Cranston Public Schools, said the firm evaluated each of the district’s buildings – encompassing 1.6 million square feet.

“They looked at everything,” she said.

Lundsten and Ray Votto, the district’s chief operating officer, said the district is in line to receive significant reimbursement through the state for the work after winning an exemption, on health and safety grounds, to the Rhode Island Department of Education’s school building moratorium.

As long as half of the bond is utilized within a five-year timeframe, Votto said, the city would be reimbursed 52 cents for every dollar spent. The state has also ruled the two existing bonds are eligible for reimbursement.

School and city officials have previously assured that the buildings are safe, and that the range of projects planned through the bond funding are meant to enhance safety and address changes in fire and building codes in recent years.

Voters also approved Question 10, which sought $1.2 million for renovations, repairs, upgrades and equipment across the Cranston Public Library system’s six locations, and Question 8, which sought $2 million for improvements, repairs and equipment at the city’s fields and playgrounds.

Question 10 was approved on a 17,688-8,345 vote, while Question 8 passed by an 18,163-7,967 margin.

Aside from the bond issues, voters decided on three ballot questions.

Question 11, which sought to abolish the classified position of personnel director and replace that post with a department head serving at the pleasure of the mayor, was approved by a large margin.

Question 12, which would make School Committee members subject to the same term limits – no more than five consecutive two-year terms – as City Council members, was approved by a wide margin.

Question 13, which sought to alter the composition of the city’s Planning Commission by adding two positions appointed by the council president, was narrowly approved.

On the legislative side Republican Robert Lancia narrowly edged state Rep. Peter Palumbo (D-16), while Rep. Michael Marcello (D-41) held on to his seat in a close race with Republican Lillian Jean Delmonico. Independent Robert Quattrocchi was also a District 41 candidate.

State Rep. Arthur Handy (D-18) won a new term over Republican Donald Gendron, and state Sen. Hanna Gallo (D-27) defeated Republican challenger Sara Sweeney.

House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello (D-15), House Deputy Majority Whip Charlene Lima (D-14) and state Reps. Robert Jacquard (D-17), Joseph McNamara (D-19), David Bennett (D-20) and Stephen Ucci (D-42) all ran without opposition, as did state Sens. Frank Lombardi (D-26) and Joshua Miller (D-28).

(Pam Schiff and Tim Forsberg contributed to this report)