UPDATE: 10:30 p.m.

It was a tale of two councillors in Summerland's municipal election, with two current council members facing off against each other for the job of mayor. 

Toni Boot came out on top Saturday night, with 56.9 per cent of the vote, compared to fellow councillor Janet Peake's 42.1 per cent. 

The mood was friendly but nervous at Municipal Hall between 8 p.m., when polls closed, and 50 minutes later, when votes were done being tallied and were read aloud to the candidates for mayor, council and school trustee. Most of the candidates were in attendance, many with family and friends in tow. 

When Boot's name was read aloud as the winner for the mayor's seat, she couldn't stop smiling. 

"I'm over the moon excited, I'm really, really excited that the people of Summerland supported my vision and the work that I've done over the past few years," Boot said. 

She said she's looking forward to what she calls a "strong council," which features all four of the incumbent candidates. Doug Holmes received 2,868 votes, Erin Trainer received 2,803, Erin Carlson picked up 2,483 and Richard Barkwill got 2,160. All four will be serving their second term on council. 

The two new spots on council will be taken up by Martin Van Alphen, with 1,983 votes, and Doug Patan, with 2,342 votes, both of whom were present at the announcement of the winners and were thrilled by the results. Van Alphen served on Summerland council from 2011 to 2014, and Patan comes from a background of working for municipal governments in Edmonton, Penticton and Kelowna. 

In the run for Summerland's two school trustee spots on School District 67's board, incumbent Linda Van Alphen, new councillor Martin's wife, was successful with 1,898 votes. Newcomer Dave Stathers, a retired Summerland Secondary School teacher, took the second spot with 2,505 votes, handily beating incumbent Julie Planiden with her 905 votes. Current mayor of Summerland Peter Waterman also ran for trustee, but was defeated.

And not everyone was pleased with the results. Unsuccessful council candidate Mark Smed, who finished with 1,335 votes, was hopeful at the beginning of the evening that his second try at running for council would work out, since it was a taxing process. 

"It took a lot out of me the first time," he said. 

And unsuccessful mayoral candidate Janet Peake was comforted by councillor Erin Carlson after the numbers were put up, and left quickly. Boot said that the hardest part of her campaign was competing against her coworker, for whom she has plenty of respect. 

"I've worked with Janet for the past four years, and that was the most difficult part," Boot said. "Janet has been very good for Summerland, and I know that she'll continue to be very good for Summerland, she's active on a number of committees, and we need that kind of thing for Summerland."

Looking forward, Boot is excited to take the helm of the new council and start working on the projects she shaped her campaign around. 

"I know there's a fair bit of work that's been piling up during the election process, but the first thing I want to get started on is the OCP review," Boot said.

"I think that if we have plans that are in place, then we won't have polarizing developments come forward," she added, referencing the controversial Banks Crescent development proposal which has been dogging council for years. 

The new council and mayor will meet for their inauguration on Monday, Nov. 5. and officially begin regular meetings Tuesday, Nov. 13. 

A total of 4,099 votes were cast in the district, 45.6 per cent of the estimated 8,990 eligible voters. 

ORIGINAL: 9 p.m.

Toni Boot has been elected mayor of Summerland.

The one-term councillor edged out fellow councillor Janet Peake.

She will be joined by Doug Patan, Martin Van Alphen, Erin Trainer, Doug Holmes, Erin Carlson and Richard Barkwill around the council table.

School trustees Dave Stathers and Linda Van Alphen were also elected to the School District 67 board, beating out incumbent Julie Planiden and current Mayor Peter Waterman. 

More to come.