DAYTON — A Democratic challenger who called herself a “super-underdog” ousted the only Republican mayor among Ohio's seven largest cities in a super-close race to become the city's first female mayor.

        With all precincts reporting unofficial results, State Sen. Rhine McLin beat two-term Mayor Mike Turner by 869 votes. Ms. McLin had 18,499 votes, or 51 percent, to Mr. Turner's 17,630, or 49 percent, in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans by 2-to-1.

        Mr. Turner entered Tuesday's race hoping to capitalize on the success of efforts to rejuvenate the city. Ms. McLin credited business leaders more than Mr. Turner for the city's renaissance.

        Ms.
McLin becomes the city's first female mayor.

        “I tell you, I'm going to be a working mayor,” Ms. McLin said. “We are going to do the city proud. The people have reclaimed the city, and we are going to do a lot of good things.”

        Christopher Heizer, executive director of the Montgomery County Board of Elections, had predicted that voter turnout could reach 55 percent, exceeding 1997 turnout of 50 percent.

        City commission and school races were helping draw some of the city's 85,000 registered voters to the polls, Mr. Heizer said.

        Mr. Turner, a 41-year-old real estate attorney, defeated Democratic incumbent Richard Clay Dixon in 1993 by less than 1 percent of the vote and had held on to the mayor's office despite registered Democrats' dominance.

        Ms. McLin, 53, the oldest daughter of longtime state Rep. C.J. McLin Jr., finished her father's term after he died in 1988, won the seat in 1990 and then won election to the Senate in 1994. Term limits kept her from running for re-election next year.

City picks Luken for strong mayor
Luken could be longest running mayor
Luken's top priority: Boosting city's economy
The 'strong mayor' plan
Voters pick for and against in mayor's race
West Siders showed up in force for Luken
Newcomer Pepper wins council race
Issue 5 victory changes hiring of chiefs
Issue 6 loses by 23 votes
Bates, 3 incumbents win school board
Fire, police big winners
GOP sweeps Hamilton County municipal court
Hamilton County levies pass
Hamilton County township races
Democrats take over Norwood
Finneytown approves school levy
Ryan elected Hamilton mayor
Butler County defeats sales tax
Butler County township races
Butler County school board races
Lebanon, Mason elect newcomers
Newcomer elected in Warren township
Warren County approves mental health levy
Warren County school boards
Warren selects mix for school boards
Waynesville re-elects mayor
Clermont defeats mental retardation levy
Clermont schools count victories
Most Clermont incumbents re-elected
Upsets on Clermont school boards
Vote more valued after Sept. 11
Cleveland, Toledo mayors set firsts
Dayton elects first female mayor
Giuliani's candidate wins NY mayor