Greg Stanton launched his candidacy for Phoenix mayor in December, surrounded by supporters in a restored, historic warehouse downtown. Thousands of handshakes, 50 debates and 11 months later, Stanton's journey ended Tuesday at the same place he started - this time celebrating victory.

Stanton will become the 52nd mayor of Phoenix. Unofficial election results showed that he had a comfortable lead over rival Wes Gullett, who conceded the race to Stanton about a half hour after the first results were posted.

Stanton, a 41-year-old attorney and father of two, will be Phoenix's first new mayor in eight years, replacing Phil Gordon, who is term-limited.

Stanton acknowledged the victory brings with it challenges, but he was upbeat. "I'm optimistic about this city because the strength of our city has never been measured by the steel and glass and concrete of our buildings," he said. "The strength of our city has been measured by the character of our people."

Stanton said his vision will focus on "helping our small businesses thrive and lifting up our entrepreneurs and innovators so we can create the jobs of the future."

As mayor, Stanton is one of nine City Council votes, but his role will go much further as an ambassador to business leaders and others around the state and nation.

Gullett said that, despite the loss, he was able to bring important issues to the table.

"We had a debate about the ideas, and there are a lot issues facing the city that had to be addressed," he said. "I'm proud of what we did and the issues that we brought forward. There will still be a reform agenda in the city of Phoenix, but it will happen without me as mayor."

Gullett said Stanton's effort to get out voters paid off. He also said outside money spent to campaign against him was a factor.

"There was an enormous amount of money spent against me in a nasty way," he said. "Negative campaigning works. When you engage in it, sometimes you win."

Stanton's win closes what has been the most contentious mayoral election Phoenix has seen in nearly 30 years, marked by attack ads paid by anonymous special-interest groups, heightened partisan rhetoric in an officially nonpartisan race and name-calling from both sides.

Stanton, a Democrat, had been cast as the union-backed, career politician throughout the race, while Gullett, a Republican, was painted as a special-interest lobbyist who wanted to tear down city government.

Stanton told his supporters at the Levine Machine warehouse near Chase Field that their aggressive grass-roots campaign helped lead them to victory. In the weekend before the election alone, Stanton's campaign reported knocking on more than 16,400 doors to get out the vote.

Throughout the campaign, Stanton had promised to be Phoenix's "education mayor," while Gullett had focused on reforming City Hall.

Gullett said he was disappointed. Supporters had hoped to see a Gullett victory, which would have made him the first mayor to come from outside the City Council in nearly three decades.

Gullett, 50, conceded the race to Stanton at 8:30 p.m.

Although he has worked for Gov. Fife Symington and his wife was a former aide to Gordon, Gullett had positioned himself as the outsider in the race who could change the status quo at City Hall.

Stanton consistently hammered Gullett for being a partner in a public-affairs and lobbying firm, suggesting Gullett would run into too many conflicts of interest between his clients and city business.

Stanton and Gullett were the last two candidates standing after capturing the most votes in the six-way mayor's race during the August general election.

Stanton served on the Phoenix City Council for nine years, representing Ahwatukee Foothills, Arcadia, the Camelback Corridor and north-central Phoenix. He will return to City Hall with his new job title after taking the oath of office Jan. 3.

Although Stanton won by a wide margin, the work ahead will be difficult for him. Phoenix is still in the depths of recovering from the economic recession, having to close a $277 million budget deficit in 2010-11 and a $59 million deficit for fiscal 2011-12.

He also will have to lead anine-member City Council that has been more contentious than in years past, divided over city spending, water-rate increases and Phoenix's controversial 2 percent food tax.

Early voter turnout hit an all-time high, and overall turnout broke the 1983 record for most ballots cast in a city election.

More than 143,500 voters turned in early ballots, and nearly 21,000 cast ballots in person.

Phoenix City Clerk Cris Meyer hoped to have all the ballots, which include early and provisional ballots, submitted to the city and counted by 5 p.m. Monday.

Reach the reporter at lynh.bui@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-2471.