First-time candidate Steven LeBlanc had asked Ward 3's voters to give him a chance to serve as their City Council representative.
Tuesday, they did precisely that.
LeBlanc scored a stunning victory over two-term incumbent and Budget and Finance Committee head Steve Curcuru, reeling in 558 votes to Curcuru's 526 to capture the seat in one of two contested ward council races in Tuesday's city elections.
LeBlanc captured the ward's first precinct, which v otes at the Veterans Center on Emerson Avenue, by a count of 230-228, and racked up 328 votes to Curcuru's 298 in Precinct 2, centered at First Baptist Church on Gloucester Avenue.
"I'm looking forward to building on the foundation that Steve (Curcuru) built for me," LeBlanc said when the votes came in at City Hall. "I'm just speechless."
Curcuru declined to comment Tuesday night.
Curcuru was seeking for his third term this year. Voters elected him to the council in 2007, after James Destino had left the seat to run for mayor. Destino lost to Carolyn Kirk that year, but Curcuru won out over John "Mike" Mulcahey by a count of 707-591. He had run unopposed in his first re-election bid in 2009.
Curcuru has been chairman of the City Council's Budget and Finance subcommittee, but didn't spend a dime on this year's campaign, according to campaign finance reports.
LeBlanc, who runs Platinum Painting and has lived in the city most of his life, was making his first run for any elected office.
Curcuru and LeBlanc sparred over the Washington Street corridor project, Gloucester's snow removal policies, drug use and enforcement in the ward, among other ward and city issues.
"I live around the Maplewood School, and I'm interested in what they will do," said Peter Anderson, 43, who said he voted for LeBlanc. " I also wanted to support my friend."
His wife, Gina, agreed.
"Knowing personally that I can call if I have a problem is important," she said. "Kudos to anyone who wants to try to make a difference."
Steven Fletcher may be contacted at 1-978-283-7000 x3455, or sfletcher@gloucestertimes.com. Follow him on Twitter at @stevengdt. Staff writer Stephanie Bergman contributed to this story.
