The Springfield City Council will have only one woman among its 13 members, come January.

Election Day was not a successful one for gender diversity on the Springfield City council. All but one of six women who ran for a seat lost, including incumbent ward councilor Zaida Luna, who was also one of three Latinos on the board. That concerns veteran councilor Kateri Walsh, who retained her at-large seat.

“I think that’s a shame. I wish there were more women on the council,” says Walsh. “I think we…women work well together and they’re problem solvers. They look at things differently; they like to have things work out.”

Walsh says perhaps more women would have won if voter turnout was higher. Less than 17 percent of registered voters cast ballots Tuesday.

As for the ethnic makeup of the incoming council, there will be one fewer Latino and one more African-American.