SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Independent Ben Walsh will lead the Salt City for the next four years after a decisive victory Tuesday in the race for Syracuse mayor.

Walsh beat out his chief rival in the race, Juanita Perez Williams, a Democrat, by more than 3,900 votes.

"What brought us together was the fact that we are all passionate about this city, want to see it progress, want to set aside our differences, and that's what we did during the campaign and that's what we are going to do when I'm mayor," Walsh said.

With 100 percent districts reporting, Walsh won 54.4 percent of the vote compared to Perez Williams' 38.1 percent. Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins pulled in 4.1 percent, Republican Laura Levine grabbed 2.5 percent of votes and Joe Nicoletti picked up 1 percent.

Last month, our exclusive Siena Research Institute Poll had Walsh in second place, 7 points behind Perez Williams. This month's poll had the Independent in the lead by 2 points.

"Over the course of the year, every time we needed a bump we got it. I felt like we were peaking at the right time. We built this amazing coalition, this amazing diverse coalition of people in Syracuse,” Walsh said.

That was evident by the crowd that filled the grand ballroom of the Marriott Syracuse Downtown. Among the group of supporters was a number of democrats, including Syracuse Common Councilor Helen Hudson and Onondaga County Legislator Monica Williams.

One of Ben's biggest supporters in the room was his father, the Former Republican Congressman Jim Walsh -- he was beaming with pride.

"He loves Syracuse and this is the only job that he's ever expressed an interest in, in terms of public service. So, he got it, tonight. So God bless and thank you to the people in the city of Syracuse,” Jim Walsh said.

Walsh is now following in his grandfather's footsteps. William Walsh was mayor of Syracuse in the 1960s.

"The roots of public service in my family run deep. That is what inspired me to do the things that I've up to this point. And it's going to be a special day when I walk into city hall and see his picture up on the wall,” Ben Walsh said.

In her concession speech, an emotional Perez Williams said she got into the race to remind the "people of this city that have been forgotten" that they can be a power.

"We did move many people in this city," Perez Williams said. "We did it with dignity. We did it with respect. And we stayed above the fray, and I'm proud of that."

Perez Williams says her campaign knocked on the doors of 20,000 houses.

Her message to the Mayor-elect Walsh:

“I just hope that Mr. Walsh knows that these folks they're hoping for a change, they're hoping that he'll be there for them a leader will be there for them.”

And as for Perez Williams’ future, she says she will continue on.

“I'm confident that I'll move on and I'll continue to be in service in some way or another. Right now, I just want to be with my family and just happy to be with the many people who have supported me this past year,” she said.

Hawkins came in a distant third, with 4 percent of the vote. He thanked his supporters and wished the other candidates well, saying he hopes to work with them in the future. 

Hawkins said although he didn't win, he feels he raised real solutions to the city's problems. 

"The election is one day in the political process and the vote is sort of a marking point," he said. "But the discussion and the organizing and the whole process continues. You know, tomorrow is another day and we'll keep working on these issues." 

Hawkins said he may run for governor in 2018. 

Lavine took the time Tuesday night to thank her team, voters and fellow candidates. Lavine said she would offer Mayor-elect Walsh any help she can. 

In her speech she focused on the future.

"Syracuse is in bad shape, but it has potential," she said. "The candidates all have great ideas and passion needed to turn the city around. We know the problems now we have to work on the solutions." 

Her main campaign focus was on mayoral control of the Syracuse City School District.

Lavine's failure to win City Hall's top job means 1997 still remains the last time a Republican won the post.

Onondaga County Republican Chairman Tom Dadey said low Republican enrollment in the city put Lavine at a disadvantage.

"It's tough for the Republicans to win in the city of Syracuse when we are down 4-to-1 in the enrollment," he said. "And when the other two candidates in the race, Ben and Juanita, have an advantage, Ben particularly, in the fundraising, it's kind of tough to get your message out in a city where Democrats clearly outnumber Republicans here in Syracuse."