Although the theme for yesterday's presidential election was change, in the Berkeley City Council races, it was all about continuity.

Incumbent Mayor Tom Bates was reelected, while incumbent councilmembers Darryl Moore, Max Anderson and Laurie Capitelli were also reelected in Districts 2, 3 and 5, respectively.

In District 4, progressive candidate Jesse Arreguin took over for late Councilmember Dona Spring, one of the most liberal members of the council.

Although there was no incumbent in the District 6 race, Susan Wengraf, the aide of the district's retiring councilmember, won handily, representing no real ideological change.

The results leave the council's moderate majority, led by Bates, intact, and the dynamics on the council will likely remain the same.

MAYOR

Bates soundly defeated former mayor Shirley Dean 61.56 percent to 35.47 percent in a repeat of their 2002 match-up, with 100 percent of precincts reporting.

Key issues in the mayoral race included downtown redevelopment, the environment, government accountability and crime.

Bates said his victory showed that residents supported his plans for downtown redevelopment.

"I think it's an opportunity to continue the work we have under way (downtown)," he said.

Dean said she did not plan an election party because she expected to lose.

"Of course, you never know what to expect-but I had been more hopeful," she said. "I thought that people would be more concerned about some of the issues than I think they are right now."

DISTRICT 4

In a hotly contested race, Arreguin won over Terry Doran, 49.47 percent to 36.10 percent.

Arreguin, who is the chair of the city's Rent Stabilization Board, was seen by many residents as the heir to the district's historically progressive seat.

Doran, who was the former school board president, benefitted from Bates' endorsement, but voters favored Arreguin's more progressive stance.

The biggest issue was downtown redevelopment, with Doran favoring large projects and Arreguin preferring to limit such developments.

Arreguin said the community understood his commitment to Spring's legacy.

"It was incredibly difficult, the mayor is very popular in the city," he said. "I think people believed that I'm the best person to carry on Dona's legacy."

Doran said residents were not as receptive to his ideas as he had hoped.

"I gave it my best," he said. "Obviously people didn't accept my message."

DISTRICT 5

The closest race of the evening belonged to District 5, in which incumbent Capitelli narrowly beat Sophie Hahn.

Capitelli led Hahn 52.88 percent to 46.96 percent. After a fundraising lead earlier this fall, Hahn seemed poised to take Capitelli's seat.

Capitelli, who was first elected in 2004, was unavailable for comment last night.

Hahn said the fact that the election was close was a sign that voters were ready for change.

"I think that people in Berkeley are hungry for new alternatives and obviously very willing to look at new candidates," she said.

DISTRICT 2

Incumbent Moore won over Jon Crowder, with Moore receiving 81.84 percent to Crowder's 16.97 percent.

Although many members of the community have been critical of what they call the city's inadequate response crime in the area, there was no substantial opposition against Moore.

Moore, who was first elected in 2004, said his victory showed his responsiveness to residents.

"Being accessible in my district to citizens, to hear their concerns and address them, I think that was my success," he said.

DISTRICT 6

Wengraf, aide to longtime District 6 councilmember Betty Olds, won in a landslide over activist Phoebe Anne Sorgen, 76.56 percent to 22.96 percent.

Sorgen, who protests with anti-war group Code Pink, was seen as too liberal for Berkeley's most conservative district.

Issues in the district included street paving and disaster preparedness.

Sorgen said it was difficult running against Wengraf because of her endorsement from Bates.

"Shirley, Sophie, Jesse and I were up against a huge political machine of entrenched city government," she said.

However, Wengraf said she won because of her experience, not her endorsements.

"I won because people recognize I care about Berkeley," she said. "This is a labor of love for me."

DISTRICT 3

Unopposed incumbent Anderson won with 96.16 percent of the vote. Anderson, who was first elected in 2004, could not be reached for comment.

Elizabeth Chang, Katie Meyer, Erika Oblea, Leslie Toy, Zach Williams and Carol Yur of The Daily Californian contributed to this report.

Tags: ELECTIONS 2008, CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2008, LOCAL ELECTIONS 2008, CITY COUNCIL