Preliminary results have been released for the City of Castlegar 2011 election. Incumbent Lawrence Chernoff has been re-elected as mayor for Castlegar defeating Gordon Zaitsoff 1,020 votes to 786.

“You never know what the public’s going to do or how they’re going to decide,” said the successful mayoral candidate shortly after the results were released. “And I look at this as being closer than I suspected it would be. But that’s a decision of the community.”I thank my supporters and the community for allowing me to be mayor for the next three years.”It’s a challenge I’ve accepted for the last six years, and  hope to do it again and enjoy what I’m doing there.”

Kirk Duff was the only incumbent not to be re-elected as he finished seventh with 820 votes. Newly elected to council for 2011-2014 are Dan Rye, who finished second with 1,194 votes, and Sue Heaton-Sherstobitoff, who finished fifth with 973 votes.

Re-elected to council were incumbents Deb McIntosh, who finished first with 1,281 votes, Kevin Chernoff (974 votes), Russ Hearne (977), and Gord Turner (860).

Not elected were Tyler Maddocks (736), Peter Wulowka (606), and Cord Lafond (437).

In an extremely close school trustee vote Jo-Anne Bursey with 1079 votes and Jen Carter with 1018 votes were elected, edging out Bev Maloff with 1007.

All results are subject to verification.

Despite losing in his bid for the mayor’s chair, Gordon Zaitsoff was pleased with the results.

“I thought the election went very well,” he said. “We were able to bring some issues to the forefront. What it’s done is send a pretty strong message to mayor Chernoff that there are some concerns in the city and some of the areas that should be address sooner than later.”