Kitchener's first new mayor in 17 years isn't exactly an unfamiliar face.
Voters have picked Berry Vrbanovic -- a city councillor since 1994 -- as their choice to succeed the retiring Carl Zehr.
“It’s a very electric atmosphere in here. I’m really excited about what the next four years hold for all of us in our community,” Vrbanovic told CTV News at his election party.
Vrbanovic, a past president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, had 61 per cent of the vote with 43 of 80 polls reporting. He said he was "very humbled" by the results.
In second place was first-term councillor Dan Glenn-Graham, who was sitting at 27 per cent.
Restaurant owner Peter Martin was in third with 8.8 per cent of votes, followed by truck driver Slavko Miladinovic with 1.7 per cent and lawyer James Rhodes, who dropped out of the race after the deadline to take his name off the ballot, with 1.4 per cent.
All incumbent Kitchener councillors were returned to their seats.
In the two wards where there was no incumbent -- the ones previously belonging to Vrbanovic and Glenn-Graham -- Dave Schnider and Sarah Marsh were elected.
For full results from Kitchener and across Waterloo Region, including council positions, click here.
