By JOSEPH FITZGERALD

WOONSOCKET — All six incumbents running for reelection to the City Council have retained their seats and one newcomer won a spot on the council in Tuesday's general election.

An unofficial tally of votes cast in the race for City Council saw voters  return John F. Ward, Suzanne J. Vadenais, William D. Schneck, Stella G. Brien, Christopher A. Beauchamp and Roger G. Jalette Sr. to their seats. The newcomer elected to the panel was Daniel M. Gendron.
The seven candidates outpolled five others who were running for seven two-year seats on the council, one of three local races on the ballot. Voters Tuesday also decided a race for mayor as well as a contest for School Committee.
In the City Council race, Ward was the high vote getter with 4,239 votes, followed by Brien with 3,844 votes. Coming in third was Beauchamp with 3,711 votes. In fourth place was Gendron with 3,694 votes, followed by fifth-place finisher Vadenais with 3,545 votes. Sixth- and seventh-place finishers were Jalette and Schneck, who garnered 3,519 and 3,131 votes,  respectively.
Many of the council incumbents were at the River Falls restaurant, which was the post-election party headquarters for Leo T. Fontaine, who handily defeated Todd R. Brien in the mayoral race.
“I'm thrilled and excited,” said Ward, a member of the council since 2005. “We've got a lot of hard work ahead of us, but I feel we have a good council and I'm cautiously enthusiastic.”
“Words can't express how happy I am,” said Gendron, who was an unsuccessful candidate for council in 2007.
 “I worked hard (on the campaign) and it paid off. I knew what I was getting into and I feel that I'm up to the task.”
“I'm happy to be back,” said Schneck, who has served as a councilman for the past eight years. “I'm already nervous about the next two years. We've got a rocky road ahead of us and we'll do the best we can.”
“I look forward to being the independent voice on the council,” said Brien, an attorney elected to a second term.
“It's a great night. I'm looking forward to the next two years,” said Beauchamp, who is beginning his second term on the council.
The unsuccessful candidates for City Council were Kathryn LeBlanc, 2,758; Philip E. Lebreque, 2,289; David B. Ashworth, 2,208; Thomas W. Wrona, 1,948; and Michael E. Moniz, 1,207.