DAYTON, Ky. — Bobby E. Crittendon lost his comeback bid Tuesday to be mayor of this Campbell County river town, 17 months after being removed from office — accused of interfering in police affairs and using city equipment for personal gain.

        Two current elected officials beat out Mr. Crittendon to face off in the November nonpartisan elections. Incumbent Ronald “Ron” Gunning received 43 percent of the vote (349 votes) to Councilman Kenneth E. Rankle's 36 percent (296 votes). Mr. Crittendon received 21 percent (173 votes) in the three-man race.

        Mr. Gunning, who was appointed to fill the unexpired portion of Mr. Crittendon's term, said he ran on his record. During his campaign, he said he had brought financial accountability to the city.

        “We have to watch every dollar we have and where we spend it,” he said during a victory party at Boruske Brothers body shop in Dayton. “That is what we have to do in this town until we can build up the surplus again and get our industrial park on the river up and running.”

        The slowing economy hit Dayton hard. The city saw its nearly $400,000 surplus dwindle over the last couple of years and has had to cut services. The city's former police chief said cuts forced him to eliminate programs such as the DARE anti-drug initiative in schools, something some council members denied at the time.

        Mr. Gunning, retired from the 3M Co., said November's election will be positive — with no dirty tricks.

        “We are going to run a positive campaign, no mud-slinging,” he said. “This is a small town, and we don't need that type of politics here.”

        Mr. Rankle, who has been self-employed for 16 years, ran on a platform of improving Dayton's image.

        “My big thing is to create a new image so businesses are willing to invest in our town,” he said. “Hopefully, we have the air of bad politics behind us and now we can move forward.”

        The town of nearly 6,000 residents made headlines after Mr. Crittendon was impeached in 2000. Then a police chief left, alleging council meddling, and the replacement police chief quit after one day on the job.

        Mr. Rankle said the city needs to promote itself effectively and try to lure tenants to its industrial park on the banks of the Ohio River.

        Mr. Crittendon, who denied any wrongdoing during his impeachment, didn't return phone calls left at his home Tuesday.

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