POST FALLS - Youth prevailed over experience on Tuesday in the race for Seat 3 on the Post Falls City Council.

Joe Malloy, a 34-year-old who works for an energy products firm and was formerly a sales and marketing executive for the long-time family-owned Idaho Veneer Company, prevented Scott Grant from being elected to a sixth term.

Malloy said he was surprised he won by the 1,228-531 margin.

"I was hopeful for a victory, but I certainly was not expecting one like this," Malloy said. "Scott has been serving for a long time and the City of Post Falls has been run well. I'm excited to have a chance to serve and see what I can do."

The Malloy name surrounding Idaho Veneer, a business in Post Falls for more than 50 years, helped, Malloy said.

"I'm blessed to be a part of the family," he said. "Post Falls has given the Malloy family a lot and I'm glad to have the opportunity to give back."

Grant, who retired in 2007 after 32 years with the Department of Corrections, was appointed to the council in November 1990 and has served ever since. He couldn't be reached for comment late Tuesday night.

The race featured candidates on opposite ends of the political spectrum.

Malloy, a rugby coach and referee, ran on the slogan that he can "take a hit." Grant's was "Vote for the Old Goat."

Meanwhile, incumbents Kerri Thoreson (Seat 1) and Skip Hissong (Seat 5) retained their seats.

Thoreson, a freelance writer/photographer, had 1,058 votes, while challengers Joe Bodman, a Spokane County deputy, had 496 and Jim Edgington, a retired police officer, 227.

Thoreson said she believes her record of voting against tax increases during the recession and her accessibility with voters helped her get re-elected.

"During the campaign, I paid very little attention to my opponents," she said. "I don't have control over what they do or don't do. I just tried to talk to as many people as possible and make myself available to the public. I try to bring as many people into the process as possible."

Bodman served on the council three terms from 1998 to 2010.

Hissong, co-owner of a recycling equipment manufacturer in Post Falls, had 1,061 votes compared to 682 for challenger Barry Rubin, who is retired after working in the accounting and mortgage industries.

Hissong, who also served on the council from 1990 to 1993, said he was "very pleased" with the vote.

Hissong said he knew voting for a 2 percent tax hike wouldn't help his re-election chances, but he voted for what he believed was the right thing to do in the name of keeping up with services rather than pay more down the road to catch up.

"I knew the (tax increase vote) would kick me in the butt and there's no guarantees," he said. "But I think meeting with the public, the signage and advertisements helped. I definitely wasn't cocky (going into Tuesday's vote)."

Hissong said he's been involved in the community for nearly 40 years, which helped.

"Name recognition comes with that," he said. "When people go to vote, if they recognize the name, they may vote that way."