In the small-town race for mayor, challenger Thaddeus "Ted" Pruskowski defeated Jerry Nicola, the local icon whose name remained on the ballot after his death last month.

Pruskowski won, 430 votes to 301 in unofficial returns.

"They realized I was the best candidate," Pruskowski said.

Nicola, seeking his third term as mayor of the Montgomery County town, died of cancer Oct. 18, too late to have his name removed from the ballot. He was 71.

Pruskowski, 43, won a term that officially starts in January, but he might take office sooner. The borough council is to meet Tuesday to pick an interim mayor to serve the last two months of Nicola's term.

Pruskowski quit his council seat in October to become eligible for the interim appointment, which would give him a two-month head start as mayor of the town of about 4,000.

"I have no reason to believe that I won't receive it," Pruskowski said.

Nicola's widow, Eileen Nicola, 60, also applied to be named interim mayor.

Along with continuing her husband's mayoral campaign after his death, Eileen Nicola was on the ballot for a borough council seat, but she lost that race.

She said last night that she still planned to seek the interim mayoral appointment.

Pruskowski said his top priorities on taking office will be to meet with the town's 15-member police department, begin a town-watch program, and improve government communication with residents. The mayor's part-time post pays $2,500 a year.

"I think this is a fresh start for the people of Bridgeport," he said.