DeKALB | Monica O’Leary beat out her opponent Erik Calmeyer, NIU student and Student Association president, by four votes to win the alderman election of the 7th Ward.

O’Leary said she was excited about the results of the race.

“My stomach is still in knots,” O’Leary said. “We did all the work we were supposed to and it paid off.”

O’Leary said she has no immediate plans, but she said she wanted to focus on the budget as alderman.

“I want to sit down and look at the rules of the budget,” O’Leary said.

Calmeyer had nothing but good things to say to O’Leary as the news of his defeat came to him.

“I want to wish Monica well in her term as alderman,” Calmeyer said.

Both candidates felt that it was a well-run race.

“I’m glad that people got out and voted for whom they wanted,” Calmeyer said.

The final results were O’Leary with 26 votes or 54 percent of the vote, and Calmeyer with 22 votes, 46 percent of the vote. The 7th Ward in DeKalb is primarily a student ward.