LINDEN — With a 51.3-percent voter turnout in the Linden election, District 2 City Council representative Mitzi Gates won the city’s mayoral election by the unofficial count of 436 to 391, taking 52.7 percent of the votes cast.

All election results are unofficial until they become certified at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

“I am honored, and I feel like it’s time to get to work learning and doing a lot of things that need to be done,” Gates said after the vote count was announced. “I’m excited about where Linden is heading, and I look forward to working with the City Council and the crew at City Hall.

“I certainly hope that I don’t disappoint the people who supported me and voted for me, and I certainly don’t want to let those people down who supported a very worthy candidate in Charles Moore.”

Gates will take office on Monday, Nov. 3.

“I was surprised by the high turnout,” said Charles Moore Jr. “I was glad to see that many folks interested in the election. I’m looking forward to seeing Linden prosper.”

The high turnout of voters in Linden — 827 of the 1,609 registered voters — was indicative of the importance its citizens saw in the election.

“The turnout was higher than I anticipated,” said city administrator Cheryl Hall, who noted that 124 absentee ballots were returned to her office for the Linden election..

In the Linden City Council races, District 1 incumbent Dennis Breckenridge reclaimed his seat 112 to 27 over Melody Trice, winning 80.6 percent of the vote. In District 2, Michael Carlisle defeated Rex Vaughn 80 to 61, taking in 56.7 percent of the vote, while Richard Lankster won the District 3 seat over incumbent William Curry by a tally of 94 to 85, taking in 52.5 percent of the vote.

Neal Jackson is the District 4 representative, while Jan Cannon is the District 5 Council member.