SAXONBURG — The man who was appointed to serve out the term of late Mayor Pam Bauman will carry on as mayor in Saxonburg.

Republican William Gillespie earned 222 votes to Democrat Dave Johnston's 171 votes, according to unofficial election results released by the county Bureau of Elections on Tuesday night.

Gillespie said the results gave him a sense of relief, and he is humbled to be elected mayor for another four years.

“It's really and truly an honor to receive the public trust and I'm going to do my best to live up to that,” a tired Gillespie said after returns were tabulated.

Gillespie listed tackling the opioid epidemic, scams and identity theft as some of his priorities in the borough.

Johnston, the retired county planning director, said before the election he is interested in seeing an Octoberfest in the borough.

Johnston could not be reached for comment on Tuesday night.