DAPHNE — A year ago, Bailey Yelding had no aspirations of being mayor. He was happy where he was — in the City Council.

“I was planning on ending my career as a councilman,” said Yelding. “But I had some people who were confident in my abilities ask me to step forward.”

So when former mayor Fred Small stepped down suddenly last fall, Yelding was appointed interim mayor on Oct. 17, 2011.

“In my 11 years on the council, I had been on every committee that the city had,” said Yelding. “So I already had an idea of what the job required. There was just more of it.”

On Tuesday, the Daphne voters decided to stick with the veteran city leader. Yelding defeated Derek Boulware 2,253 votes to 2,132 in uncertified returns. Boulware, a one-term councilman, conceded the race less than an hour after the polls closed, telling about two dozen supporters he was proud of their support.

Yelding finished second in a four-man primary in late August. But the six-week layoff gave him and his supporters time to regroup.

“We did a better job of going door to door, meeting the people and addressing issues,” said Yelding. “Plus, in the primaries, some of my folks were tied up in their own races. Once that was cleared up, we had a bigger and better group out there campaigning.

“I think my experience in city administration played a role in the election outcome. The citizens and the employees seemed to resonate with me.”

Boulware beat Yelding by almost 500 votes in the Aug. 28 primary and outspent his opponents by a wide margin. But it was a somber Boulware who approached the microphone at his headquarters around 7:45 p.m.

“There is no use delaying this, we cam up short,” he said with his wife Caroline by his side. “We gave it everything we had, but we gained experience and friendships that we will treasure for the rest of our lives. “This was an effort I doubt I will experience again.”

Boulware said he planned to spend more time with his family but did not rule out another foray into politics in the future.

“We are committed to Daphne, to this county and this state,” said Boulware.