With all precincts reporting, vice mayor Carolyn Kay Riggle led the candidates with 3,772 votes, followed by Gary L. Milner with 3,599 votes and mayor Windell Wheeler with 2,732 votes.

The three incumbents were challenged by four newcomers. Tim Dodge led the challengers with 1,788 votes, followed by Steve Hill with 1,407 votes, Ed Paxton with 1,376 votes and Keith A. Mangine with 994 votes.

Lisa Keller was unopposed for the remaining two years of her ward 2 council seat and received 1,136 votes.

"I felt elated and was so glad when it was all over," Riggle said.

She said she didn't take anything for granted with this election and approached it as if she was running for the first time, using fliers and yard signs to get her name out to the voters.

"And it worked," she said.

Wheeler said he was "nervous going into election night but after the first round of results came out (that showed him with a comfortable lead over the challengers) I started to feel better," he said.

Milner said he was ready to accept the results, no matter which way they went.

"I wasn't nervous going in, not because I didn't want to get re-elected," he said. "It was a whole different feeling this time after serving for four years. I left it in the hands of the voters. If they thought I did a good enough job they would vote for me. If they didn't then it was time for them to put someone else in there. The worst thing is I would have had more time to spend with my family."

All three incumbents felt that the voters believed they have done a good job governing the city and would continue to do so.

"I believe they are comfortable with what is happening in the city," Wheeler said.

"I think it was a fairly clear message. ... I think they looked at how well we worked together," Milner added.

Riggle said she thinks the voters looked at the incumbents' experience and decided that's what's needed in the current economic climate.

"The council works well together and we're experienced and that is what it is going to take to get us through the next year," she said.

Council will hold its organizational meeting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 16, at which time members will elect a mayor and vice mayor to two-year terms.