A “Bear” will occupy City Hall for at least two years, beginning next month.

Mac “Bear” Hodges easily shook off a write-in campaign by Carter Leary to win the mayoral contest in Washington. Hodges will replace Archie Jennings, who did not seek re-election.

Hodges collected 955 votes to Leary’s 97 votes, according to unofficial returns from the Beaufort County Board of Elections.

Along with the new mayor, Washington residents will see one new face on the City Council. Larry Beeman, a political newcomer, was successful in his bid for a seat on the five-member council.

Councilman Ed Moultrie did not seek re-election. Moultrie, who was pastor of Beebe Memorial CME Church, was transferred to a church in South Carolina several months ago.

Bobby Roberson led all council candidates with 704 votes, followed by Doug Mercer (663 votes), Beeman (601 votes), Richard Brooks (598 votes) and William Pitt (595 votes). Those five were elected.

Unsuccessful in their council bids were Gil Davis (556 votes), Ty Carter (508 votes) and Lloyd May (464 votes).

“I’m excited and looking forward to serving the next two years and doing the best job I can do,” Hodges said Tuesday night.

When it comes to implementing his vision for the city, Hodges is “wedded” to one particular approach to economic development. “The one I really want to work on is destination weddings on the waterfront. … I think the future economic development of Washington will depend a lot on tourism and bringing people to Washington to spend money here, maybe to live here,” he said.

Other winning candidates weighed in on the election results and what they mean to the city and its residents.

“I hope that we progress the city, take it to the next level,” Beeman said about what he wants his election to accomplish. “I would like to see us continue to grow and work with the City Council members to move forward.”

Brooks discussed what he wants his election to accomplish.

“I hope that it will bring us more together and that we all have the same ideas, doing things for Washington that are needed,” Brooks said.

Roberson, the city’s current mayor pro tempore, said he looks forward to working with the new mayor and councilman.

“I think he has some ideas … talking about some things he would like to see completed. He wants to convert the open space between the old Maola ice-cream plant and the North Carolina Estuarium into a wedding-enterprise kind of setup … I’m looking forward to the new mayor. Maybe he can bring some additional ideas he’s got to local government,” Roberson said.

Roberson said he would like for the new council to put partisan politics aside and work the betterment of the city.

If the new council follows tradition, it will elect Roberson as mayor pro tempore for the next two-year term.

The mayor and council members serve two-year terms.