AJ Moll, a 47-year-old foodservice director, defeated incumbent Mary Monachella in Chesterfield's Ward I on April 7 — the only city council race this spring where voters had a choice between candidates.

Moll collected 1,237 votes (53.8%) to Monachella's 1,064 (46.24%), a margin of 173 votes, according to unofficial results from St. Louis County with all 196 polling places reporting. The city of Chesterfield has also posted the results on its website, though they remain unofficial pending certification.

Monachella, a retired mathematics professor, has lived in Chesterfield for 38 years. Moll, who moved to the city 13 years ago, will now hold the Ward I seat she vacated — a result that hands the position to a resident with roughly a third of his predecessor's time in the community.

The other three ward seats on the April 7 ballot drew no challengers. Mary Ann Mastorakos (Ward II), Michael Moore (Ward III), and Merrell Hansen (Ward IV) all ran unopposed.

All four will be sworn in Tuesday, April 21, at 6 p.m. at Chesterfield City Hall, 690 Chesterfield Parkway West. Municipal Judge Mark Gaertner will administer the oath of office. Mayor Dan Hurt will then call a brief recess for a public reception before the regular council meeting reconvenes — residents are welcome to attend both.

The new council's first meeting will include at least one item that affects residents directly: a proposal from Hansen's Planning and Public Works Committee to raise the city's maximum reimbursement for mailbox damage — caused by city vehicles or operations — from $300 to $500 under Policy PW40. Mayor Hurt is also expected to present Planning Commission reappointments for Gail Choate, Guy Tilman, and Khalid Chohan.

Moll will serve a two-year term in the Ward I seat.