COEUR d'ALENE — Longtime Coeur d'Alene City Councilman Ron Edinger opened up a massive early lead in Tuesday's election and never let up.

Edinger received 3,131 votes — 66 percent of the total — to challenger Toby Schindelbeck's 1,559 votes.

"I would like to congratulate Ron Edinger on his victory," Schindelbeck said. "People deserve the government that they vote for."

Edinger, 79, has been on the council for more than four decades and served one term as mayor. Schindelbeck, 37, is a conservative small business owner.

"This race was a little different than the others I've been in," Edinger said. He was celebrating with supporters and friends at the Fort Ground Grill as election results came in. "I myself have always run an honest and clean campaign, and I never had my opponent do some of the things that (he) did in this election."

Edinger said his landslide victory was proof Coeur d'Alene voters don't like "dirty politics."

City Councilman Dan Gookin, who ran unopposed, said the victory by Edinger, and by Dan English over incumbent Steve Adams, sent a specific message.

"This is going to show that the citizens of Coeur d'Alene don't want the national political nonsense on their city council," Gookin said.

Edinger pledged in this election to advocate and promote public safety by supporting the city's police and fire departments; and promote economic growth and the creation of good-paying jobs. He also promised to maintain communication and positive relations between the city council and city employees.