Voters swept three City Council incumbents out of office in dramatic fashion on Tuesday, signaling what Councilman-elect Tim Johnson called “a new day dawning.”

The results were an indictment of the way City Council has governed in recent years, observers said.

Johnson walloped two-term incumbent Councilman Jeffrey Gardy with more than 79 percent of the vote.

“We couldn’t be happier,” Johnson said by phone from his Holland Road store, Johnson’s Gardens, where he had welcomed supporters for a gathering. “It’s wonderful. The City Council will have a whole lot of work ahead, because we’ve got to listen to the people.”

Leroy Bennett, a former City Council representative who was drawn out of his former borough in a 2012 redistricting, challenged and beat Vice Mayor Charles Brown. Bennett received 50 percent of the vote, to Brown’s 26 and Clinton Jenkins’ 24.

“I think there was a message in the election today from the citizens,” Bennett said at the Suffolk Shrine Club, where he held a party for supporters. “I’m so excited. I’m looking forward to being back on the council and working with the council. We can continue to move the city forward.”

Brown, who has been on council for 20 years, extended his congratulations to Bennett.

“The people have spoken, and they have spoken very clear, that Leroy Bennett is their new leader, and I accept that,” Brown said. “Congratulations to Leroy. I wish him the very best.”

The Suffolk Borough turned out to be the closest race, but it really wasn’t that close. Don Goldberg received 45 percent of the vote against incumbent Charles Parr Sr., who got 29 percent. A third candidate, Kerry Holmes, got 26 percent.

“I’m very humbled by the vote,” Goldberg said at the voter registrar’s office, where he learned of the results. “I’m appreciative of all the citizens that voted for me and worked for me. They were just great.”

Parr said he will “move on” following the vote.

“The people of Suffolk have spoken,” Parr said from the First Lady, where he held a party for supporters. “I believe in the election system, and the folks have spoken.”

Councilman Mike Duman, who was unopposed, will return to council from the Chuckatuck Borough.

Mayor Linda T. Johnson, whose seat was not up for election, said, “Suffolk has great days ahead.”

“The voters have spoken,” she said. “This is the way democracy works, and it is what it is. I enjoyed working with the incumbents. I think we’ve accomplished a lot. I look forward to working with the new folks on council, as well, because I think everybody’s working for what is best for Suffolk. Suffolk has great days ahead.”