Larry Jangula narrowly toppled incumbent mayor Greg Phelps in Courtenay, with Bill Bate finishing a distant third.
Jangula, who did not run for re-election as a councillor to run for mayor, earned 2,543 votes, 77 more than Phelps garnered. Bate got 257 ballots.
“I’m amazed. I’m overwhelmed,” Jangula reacted.
“I want to thank all the people who voted for me and I thank the people who didn’t vote for me” for being part of the democratic process, he added.
Jangula thanked his wife Jeanette, sons Todd and Craig and his campaign team.
Manno Theos topped all council candidates, with fellow incumbent Jon Ambler a strong second. Former mayor Starr Winchester was third, incumbents Ronna-Rae Leonard and Doug Hillian were re-elected and newcomer Bill Anglin took the sixth and final council seat.
Longtime councillor Murray Presley did not run for re-election.
Marcus Felgenhauer, Mark Middleton, Dave Smith, former school board trustee Jean Rowe, former councillor Erik Eriksson, Norm Reynolds, John Van Egmond, Doug Kerr, George Knox and Stu MacInnis completed the 16-candidate field.
Vote totals (e=elected):
Mayor:
e-Larry Jangula 2543
Greg Phelps 2466
Bill Bate 257
Council:
e-Manno Theos 3156
e-Jon Ambler 2707
e-Starr Winchester 2583
e-Ronna-Rae Leonard 2410
e-Doug Hillian 2142
e-Bill Anglin 1923
Marcus Felgenhauer 1557
Mark Middleton 1515
Dave Smith 1404
Jean Rowe 1357
Erik Eriksson 1264
Norm Reynolds 1248
John Van Egmond 1198
Doug Kerr 1027
George Knox 652
Stu MacInnis 588