City clerk keeps office

At Democratic Headquarters, one block from City Hall, jubilant Democrats celebrated victories in seven of the nine Bloomington elections, including the mayor's race. \nVice president of the College Democrats Dan O'Neill called Tuesday's candidate slate the strongest he's seen in 10 years. \nMoore said she is thrilled to begin working with Mayor-elect Mark Kruzan and the new Democrats on the City Council. \n"It's going to be a very dynamic group of folks," she said. "Hopefully we can do good things for the city."\nStevenson, 20, said his first election was, in some respects, a win. Student turnout at the polls in Read Center and Willkie Quad was up from years past, he said. \n"Even if I didn't win, there was a better student turnout," he said. "That was the goal of my whole campaign, so in that way, I was at least marginally successful." \nMoore said she is glad the election is finished. She relieved her nerves throughout the day by taking her husband for a haircut and having a long lunch at Grazie's.\n"It was a nervous day," she said. "There's really nothing you could do. It's a relief that we can get on with our regular jobs."\nStevenson said he had a positive experience in politics and hopes to do it again.\nAfter he and Moore appeared on a local television talk show taped at the Monroe County Library, Stevenson said he congratulated Moore on her win.\n"I told Regina there will always be a special place in my heart for her as my first political opponent," he said. "Kind of like my first crush."\nAt Republican Headquarters, the two GOP victors, Jason Banach and David Sabbagh, vowed to fight the uphill battle for their party in the Democratic-controlled Council.\n"We ran a hell of a race, and we'll do better next time," Sabbagh said. "We have to continue to present an alternative."\nFor many Republicans who gathered at the headquarters to watch election results come in, Tuesday's showing was another reminder that Bloomington is a city of die-hard Democrats. \n"As a Republican, you're an endangered species," said Republican Jim Dawson, former Bloomington township trustee. "I've been through this before. We knew it was going to be close."\nBrad Whistler, local Republican activist, said the biggest disappointment of the night was the race for the 6th District seat on the City Council. \nAs the election returns came in, Democrat Steve Volan and Republican Chris Smith were tied with only a handful of the 63 precincts left to be counted. Volan went on to win by fewer than 30 votes. \n"Chris fought a good fight," Whistler said. "That's as close as it has ever been."\nFormer Democratic Councilman Patrick Murphy said he was surprised how little trouble Democrat Dave Rollo, a newcomer, had in defeating Republican Rod Young in the 4th District.