Challenger John Spatz unseated incumbent Annette McRoy late Tuesday in a City Council battle that remained too close to call until the final vote count.

Spatz will join retired postmaster Doug Emery as new members of the council.

Emery defeated small business owner LaRae Eifert to claim an open seat.

Spatz’s victory over McRoy in  northwest Lincoln’s 4th District tipped the balance on the officially non-partisan council to a 4-3 Republican majority.

McRoy’s a Democrat; Spatz is a Republican.

Re-elected to the council were Jon Camp and Jonathan Cook, both easily winning their third terms.

1st District: Emery

Emery, 56, a Democrat, will succeed Patte Newman, who did not seek re-election after a single term representing northeast Lincoln.

Looking ahead Tuesday night, Emery said Lincoln must address its infrastructure needs and “widen the tax base (by) bringing in new businesses.”

But his first priority, he said, will be helping shape the city budget.

Joining the postal service as a part-time clerk in 1974, Emery worked his way up, retiring in January after 8½ years as postmaster.

Emery brings an unusual — perhaps useful — skill to the council.  He’s experienced in refereeing boxing matches.

The new 1st District councilman has expressed support for a new research corridor and convention center as the two most important projects in the 2015 Vision list of city development proposals.

Eifert, 52, a Republican, owns a bookkeeping business and investment properties. She was a candidate for state senator in 2006.

4th District: Spatz

Spatz, 33, legal counsel for the Nebraska Association of School Boards, said he was “still trying to soak it in” moments after learning he’d been elected.

“I’m pretty excited,” he said.

But, Spatz said, he’ll be ready to help tackle the city’s budget problems and then move on to the task of job creation.

“We need to create a better environment for job growth,” he said.

In assessing 2015 Vision projects, Spatz has given priority to increasing research and development at UNL.

McRoy, 42, who is engaged in commercial real estate sales, was first elected to the council in 1999.  She was seeking her third term.

Her departure from the council will leave the seven-member body with only one female member.

2nd District: Camp

Camp was re-elected to his third term on the council, defeating retired public works and utilities director Allan Abbott in southeast Lincoln’s 2nd District.

Camp, 57, a Republican, is an attorney and real estate developer best known for helping shape the revitalized Haymarket. He has served on the council since 1999.

Atop his list of priorities is “making meaningful policy changes that create a responsible pro-growth atmosphere” in the city.

Abbott, 67, a political independent, was director of the state Department of Roads during the administration of Democratic Gov. Ben Nelson. He retired as city public works and utilities director in 2004.

3rd District: Cook

Cook won his third term by defeating John Erickson in southwest Lincoln’s 3rd District.

A Democrat, Cook, 40, is a computer software developer.

As a member of the council since 1999, he has emphasized protection of neighborhood services and creation of “new, good-paying jobs.”

Expansion of UNL research facilities has “enormous economic potential for high-dollar jobs,” he said.

Erickson, 47, a Republican, is a policy adviser in the governor’s office of policy research. 

Returning to the council are Ken Svoboda, Robin Eschliman and Dan Marvin, all elected citywide in 2005. 

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.