It wasn’t a blue wave, but Warren elected a new town council Tuesday comprised of three Democrats and two Independents.

Warren Town Council pesiddent Joseph DePasquale earned the most votes at 2,421, with incumbent Democrat Keri Cronin, the council’s vice president, coming in second place with 2,247. They and Independent incumbent John Hanley earned four-year terms on the council while the fourth and fifth place finishers, Independent Steve Calenda and Democrat Brandt Heckert, will serve for two years. Candidates June Speakman, Keith Phillis and Barry Lial finished out of the money.

Mr. DePasquale, who has served on the council for 14 years, said after the vote that he's happy to be back. It will be his first four-year term, as staggered two- and four-year terms were just approved during the town's recent Charter Review. Prior to that change, all councilors served two years.

"Believe it or not, the first year I got elected in 2002 was the first year of going back to two years," he said. "Prior to that they had been doing it for four years too. I've come first circle. I'm happy that the people of Warren still have confidence in me; I'm looking forward to working with the new members the council, and hearing new ideas and perspectives.

Watching the numbers come in at an election party at Federal Hill Pizza, Ms. Cronin said she was overjoyed at retaining her seat on the council. She wasn’t always sure what was going to happen, she said, but was heartened to earn the second highest vote total.

“It surprises me to a certain extent,” she said. “But if in my heart I believe in the job that I think that I’ve done and the connections that I’ve made, then I’m notarially surprised. Because I felt like all of that effort that I put in was absolutely sincere and valid. I’m really proud and I’m really happy, and I’m honored that there’s a whole new team to work with for the next four years.”

Initially, indications were that Mr. Calenda, the outgoing zoning board chairman, had won the third spot on the council and thus would serve four years. But after mail ballots were counted, he and Mr. Hanley switched places by 11 votes.

Though he said "it's breaking my heart" to leave the zoning board, Mr. Calenda said he is overjoyed to win a seat on the council, even for two years. He ran unsucessfully in 2010.

"I'm humbled by the turnout I got," he said. "It was a tough campaign, and there were a lot of good candidates out there. But the Town of Warren clearly spoke."

After the results came in and he was talking to supporters and fellow councilors at Federal Hill Pizza, he recalls saying, 'I'm at a loss for words!'"

"Really, when am I ever at a loss for words? But I was."

Warren Town Council election results

Four-year term winners:

Joseph DePasquale, I (2,421)

Keri M. Cronin, D (2,247)

John W. Hanley, I (1,940)

Two-year term winners:
Steven P. Calenda, I (1,929)

P. Brandt Heckert, D (1,880)
Out:
June S. Speakman, D (1,817)

Keith Edward Phillis, D (1,601)

Barry Lial, I (1,333)