Three new councillors were elected onto the Corporation of Hamilton last night on what one of the losing candidates declared a "mandate of change".

Glen Smith, Charles Gosling and Anne Kast polled the most votes out of the six candidates standing in a by-election which saw 249 voters out of a possible 402 — or almost 62 percent — head to the polls.

Former Corporation of Hamilton councillor Graeme Outerbridge, who resigned his seat in May after his eligibility was challenged, got the least number of votes.

He told The Royal Gazette after the count: "I feel sanguine. I feel fine. I was seen very much as to do with the old administration. It's a mandate of change and one can't take these things personally.

"I'm an agent of change but I don't know if the votership is ready for the kind of change that I represent."

The Corporation has had a tumultuous 2008 so far, losing three councillors and an alderman for various reasons over the space of five months, as well as a number of senior staff. Internal rows and controversial decisions at City Hall have generated a string of negative headlines.

Father-of-two Mr. Smith, the candidate who got the most votes, ran his campaign on a promise to get the Corporation back on track.He said last night he was honoured to have gained a seat on the municipality.

"We had six great candidates and we ran a great race and I'm sure it was a tough job to pick between the six of us for the three positions," said the 45-year-old Logic chairman.

"I'm very happy for what I have done and the campaign I ran. We worked hard. The pressure is on me now to try to get this ship sailing right."

The results were declared at City Hall shortly before 9 p.m., with some disagreement over the exact number of votes received by each candidate.

Returning officer John Cooper said there was no need for a recount as it was clear who the winning candidates were. Mr. Smith received 158 or 159 votes; Mr. Gosling 145; Ms Kast 108 or 109; John Harvey 106; Diane Gordon 83; and Mr. Outerbridge 72 or 73.

Mr. Gosling, 55, vice president of marketing and managing director of Gosling Brothers, said he was "very, very happy" to have been elected but disappointed that Mr. Harvey and Ms Gordon did not gain seats, as the trio agreed together to run.

Ms Kast, president of Kast Investment Management, said the last stages of the count were exciting as her and Mr. Harvey were neck-and-neck. "Mr. Harvey is extremely capable; it could have gone either way," she said.

All three candidates were sworn in by Mr. Cooper, alongside new alderman Pamela Ferreira. Her elevation to alderman creates a councillor vacancy and another by-election will be held shortly.

Mr. Outerbridge said he was unlikely to run again. "I have been in too many elections and the pattern is achingly clear," he said. "I'm happy with what I have done during my time at the Corporation while serving nothing more important that the city itself. I think the existing city vote has spoken and I'm not a part of that future."

Mayor Sutherland Madeiros said: "On behalf of the Corporation of Hamilton, I would like to congratulate Pamela, Glen, Charles and Anne on their new positions. This marks a new day at the Corporation and we look forward to working together on the many important issues in the city."