The transition proved to be relatively stress-free for silver-haired Dennis NordÂfelt, who, according to unofficial returns Tuesday, coasted to victory over Adam Leffler in the West Valley City mayoral race.

"This has been more nerve-racking than I expected," Nordfelt said. "I'm really humbled by the results."

Technically an incumbent, the retired West Valley City police chief took office in August 2002, when he was appointed mayor by the City Council after the midterm death of Gearld Wright. In November 2003, Nordfelt ran unopposed to finish the term.

With Tuesday's comfortable win, the 62-year-old former Olympic coordinator will be asked to oversee continued growth and the implementation of a transit system for the ethnically diverse city of 117,000, Utah's second most populous.

As chairman of the Wasatch Front Regional Council, Nordfelt believes in big-picture vision and regional cooperation, especially for transportation. "We need to educate the public that it's not just business as usual," he said.

Leffler, a 34-year-old businessman who never has worked in city government, blamed low turnout for the defeat.

"For the next two years, I'm going to be [Nordfelt's] watchdog," he said.

Leffler, who also supports light rail, campaigned on fostering new business with tax incentives and boosting the police force by a third.