Challengers Steven A. Brun and Brenda Guidugli, ex-wife of incumbent Stephen R. Guidugli, were among the top six in a 10-person race for six council seats, with four of the five precincts reporting.

Key issues in the race were development, and challengers' contention that the city had worked too aggressively to develop the historic river city.

Here were the top six candidates, in order of votes collected with 80 percent of the precincts reporting:

•  Councilman Edward M. Riehl, 40, store manager for Pilot Lumber in Bellevue;

•  Councilman Tom W. Ratterman, 30, a residential property assessor for the Kenton County Property Valuation Administrator;

•  Councilman Stephen Guidugli, 48, parts manager for Kings Nissan;

•  Brenda Guidugli, 44, an executive assistant at Sara Lee Foods;

•  Steven A. Brun, 36, owner of SBComp on Fairfield Avenue, which sells new and used computers; and

•  Victor G. Camm, 52, an architect for Burgess & Niple Inc.

Appearing to be on their way to losing were incumbents Cindy L. Losey and Tom Quirk.

Losey, 43, who teaches political science at Northern Kentucky University, teaches legal studies at the Academy of Court Reporting in Cincinnati, and is a social worker for the Brighton Center. Quirk, 46, is a senior computer consultant.

"I haven't seen the final count with the absentee ballots, but it looks like I'm in," Brenda Guidugli said. "I'd say that a lot of the residents were wanting a change, and they had a lot of candidates to choose from."

She was pleased that Brun also won a seat.

"There were a lot of residents upset about some of the developments that took place, and people not knowing what was going on," she said. "Maybe they feel that with the newer council people, that we would be more willing to listen to their concerns and look out for their best interests."

Also in the race were Allen Ramsey, 33, and Terry Hatton. Ramsey was an official write-in candidate with signs across town. Ramsey entered the race after he and his Lake Street neighbors learned about the demise of one of the city's oldest houses when they saw the dilapidated building bulldozed, he said.

Incumbents argued they worked hard to ensure new developments blend with the community. The additional taxes from developments will help the city and schools provide better services to residents, they noted.

City Council seats pay an annual salary of $2,000.

Not contested this year was the mayor's office, held by Jack Meyer. That post next will be up for election in 2006.

E-mail mrutledge@enquirer.com