Two of the candidates in the contested races — Tamisha Civil and Eunice Zeigler, both Democrats who are Haitian-American — would also become the first black women to serve on the council if elected. In separate interviews, both said they appreciated that history could be made in the election, but each said they were focused on their own campaigns for office.

Civil, a probation officer, faces former judge Francis T. Crimmins Jr. in the race for a seat in the council’s second district, which covers a region west and south of Boston that includes Framingham and Attleboro. The position is vacant from 2022.

Civil and Crimmins, a Republican, draw on their courtroom experiences in their pitches to voters about why they would be the best choice to help their judicial candidates.

Civil, 43, of Stoughton, said she was motivated to run because of her cousin, James Lucien, who served nearly 27 years in prison before his murder conviction was thrown out in 2021. because his trial was marred by police misconduct and perjury.

In an interview, Civil said he wants to promote the board with voters and solicit questions from the public to ask candidates, particularly for judgeships. She pledged to support only pro-abortion justices.

“Judges have tremendous power (and) we need to make sure we empower those who understand the needs of the voters in our district,” Civil said.

Crimmins could not be reached for comment. In a statement on his website, he said he believes the board’s goal is to ensure “only the most qualified” candidates are appointed.

“Crimmins understands that the political landscape has changed, making it time for an experienced voice to help restore confidence in the Commonwealth’s judicial system,” the statement said.

In the Fifth District council race, Zeigler, an executive with a nonprofit in Haverhill, faces Republican Anne Manning-Martin, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Corrections, and independent Jody Elliott, a licensed mental health counselor.

The district is north of Boston and includes communities such as Salem and Methuen. Eileen Duff is not seeking re-election and has endorsed Zeigler.

The state’s judiciary remains largely white and male, and Governor Maura Healey’s appointments have increased the number of women and people of color in those ranks. But they are also predominantly Democrats, the Globe reported.

Manning-Martin, 58, said in an interview that as a Republican, she would serve as a check on a Democratic governor and a Governor’s Council dominated by members of the same party. Manning-Martin, also a member of the Peabody City Council, points to her experience with judges and the Parole Board while working in the state Department of Corrections.

“When you have one party — from the corner office to the Legislature and a council that approves the judiciary — that’s not good for anybody. This is a one-party system,” Manning-Martin said. “When I talk to a lot of voters … they don’t like that.”

Zeigler, 36, a former Methuen city councilman, is vice president of strategic planning and administration at Emmaus, which specializes in emergency housing, shelters and affordable housing programs in the Merrimack Valley. She said party affiliation would not be considered in judicial nominations and would serve as a check on the governor’s office.

“For me, the role goes beyond the party. … (The) main responsibility as counsel to the governor would be to the voters and making sure we have a fair judicial system,” she said.

Elliott, an independent, said in an interview that because he is not a lawyer or “court professional” he has no personal interest in who is appointed to the judgeship.

She called for a rule to prevent conflicts of interest, such as barring any attorneys who serve on the board from appearing in court before assigned judges.

Without such a restriction in place, “that puts a lot of temptation, every day, on the table,” Elliott said.

In two other races, incumbent Democrats Joseph C. Ferreira and Paul M. DePalo face challenges.

Ferreira appears on the ballot with independent Krysten Condon in the race for the First District seat, which represents the Cape and Islands. DePalo faces Republican Andrew J. Couture in the Seventh District race to represent a Central Massachusetts region that includes Worcester.

In the four uncontested council races, Democrats are running unopposed on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Up for council District III is Mara Dolan to succeed Marilyn M. Petitto Devaney by seniorityafter defeating Devaney in the state primary in September.

Holders Christopher A. Iannella, Jr. (District 4), Terrence W. Kennedy (District 6) and Tara J. Jacobs (District 8) ran unopposed Tuesday.

Matt Stout of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

John Hilliard can be reached at [email protected].