When the polls closed at 8 p.m. on Nov. 2, Burr, who led throughout the night, had 4,662 votes or 24.5 percent, while Hernandez received 4,509 votes, or 23.74 percent. Trailing close behind Hernandez was Evan Low, who posted 4,143, or 21.81 percent, of the votes.

Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman Tim Mason placed fourth with 3,346 votes or 17.62 percent, and Campbell Planning Commissioner George Doorley received 2,297 votes, or 12.09 percent.

Burr, who began his civic service as a Campbell police officer 48 years ago, said this was one of the tightest Campbell City Council elections in a long time.

"It's the closest I've seen in a while," Burr said. "I've seen some way back that were pretty close, but not many recently."

He did note, however, that in the 1985 city council election, incumbent Dean Chamberlin lost his seat by only 70 votes.

Hernandez said he expected the election to be tight.

"I knew before the race that it was going to be unpredictable," Hernandez said. "It was the first time we had this many candidates for only two seats. And it was happening at the same time as the presidential election."

Campbell City Clerk Ann Bybee, who has been working with Campbell since 1981, added that as a group, the candidates were much more qualified than they had been in the past, giving citizens more to think about before casting their votes.

"It's not uncommon for candidates with little or no experience to run for the city council seats," she said. "But everyone this year has some kind of government or civic experience."

Burr has been active in the city since 1956. Hernandez has been a member of the Campbell Planning Commission for six years. Doorley has spent five years on the planning commission and currently serves as its chairman. Low has served on the board of the Campbell Historical Museum Foundation since 2003, and Mason currently is the chairman of the Campbell Parks and Recreation Commission.

The campaign was also one of the most expensive on record.

Low reported contributions of $28,909, with much of the money coming from outside the city. Burr reported contributions of $23,118. Hernandez received $15,075. Doorley received a total of $10,305, and Mason had total contributions of $4,225.

During the last 12 years, candidates generally reported campaign finances of no more than $12,000, Bybee said. These year was significantly higher in the aggregate.

Much of these funds was used in advertising and campaign literature.

"You have to sell yourself in an election," Burr said. "You have to tell the people who you are and what you're about. I think the people who did that well did well in this election."

The result of the election means four more years of public service for Burr, who under term limitations will be ineligible to run in 2008.

For Hernandez, the position is a new start; he will be resigning his position on the Campbell Planning Commission.

"I'm extremely excited," he said. "And at the same time, I'm humbled by the trust that the people of Campbell have put into me."