Scott Resnick and his campaign supporters celebrated at Zander's Capitol Grill Tuesday night following his victory in the District 8 alder race over challenger Kyle Szarzynski.
Resnick, who received 56.73 percent of the vote, said he was happy to win the seat and was looking forward to the job.
""I'm ecstatic,"" Resnick said. ""I'm really, really excited. I'm really ready to get to work.""
Resnick said a locks ordinance will be his number one priority once he is in office, and explained he will need to hit the ground running if the ordinance is to be enforced by fall.
""I really think that's something that should take effect before August 15, and if you're going to take something in effect August 15, you can't be making any rookie alder mistakes,"" Resnick said.
Ald. Bryon Eagon, District 8, who endorsed Resnick and helped with his campaign, as well as other alders will be useful in his transition process, Resnick believes.
""They've helped me campaign, they've guided me with their wisdom before, and I'm sure that won't stop now,"" he said.
Although disappointed with his loss, Szarzynski was proud of how he campaigned.
""This is definitely a defeat for campus progressives, but we're definitely enormously proud of the fact that we ran a principled and unabashedly progressive campaign,"" Szarzynski said.
Both candidates expressed a high level of respect for each other, with Resnick explaining they often crossed paths on the campaign trail.
""The story that will never be written is that the two of us became pretty good friends out of it,"" he said. ""The two of us would run into each other at midnight before doing lit drops and sit there and talk for an hour.""
Resnick will officially take over the District 8 seat at the city council meeting April 19.
