Former Edmonds City Councilmember Dave Earling decisively defeated appointed Edmonds Mayor Mike Cooper Tuesday night by a margin of 66 percent to 33 percent.

“We need to set a new tone for City government,” Earling told supporters who gathered at Portofino Pizza to watch the election results.

Currently president of Senior Services of Snohomish County, Earling spent 12 years on the Edmonds City Council, including five years as president, and also served as chairman or President of Sound Transit, Community Transit, the Cascade Symphony, the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce, and the Edmonds School District Public Education Fund. He has also been a board member for the Edmonds Center for the Arts and the Washington Conservation Voters.  He previously owned and operated a small residential real estate company in Edmonds.  A 30-year resident, he lives near Perrinville with his wife, with whom he has three children and two grandchildren.

“I deeply appreciate this strong show of support from voters in Edmonds,” Earling said later in a written statement. “I look forward to serving as Mayor to deliver that new leadership and begin tackling the challenges we face as a community.

“This has been a long but rewarding race. I have been encouraged by so many conversations with voters with citizens across our town. But, I am especially thankful for the hard work and enthusiasm of so many supporters, as well as my family, who made this effort possible.”

Cooper, who resigned from the Snohomish County Council after being appointed by the Edmonds City Council as mayor last summer, was unavailable for comment Tuesday night.