Lib Dem candidate Dave Hodgson is the new Mayor of Bedford.
The result was announced at Bedford Corn Exchange.
Mr Hodgson beat a crowded field, where six candidates hoped to succeed Frank Branston, who died in August.
The Liberal Democrat, who was leader of his party at Borough Hall, won 9,428 votes when people specified their first choice candidate.
He also won a further 4,127 votes as a second choice candidate, giving him a total of 13,555 votes.
Conservative candidate Parvez Akhtar was second with a total 11,543 first and second preference votes.
He will now form an administration at Bedford Borough Council, heading an authority which has responsibility for services such as education, roads, waste and social care across north Bedfordshire.
Turn-out for the election was 35,807 or 30.01 per cent. That figure included 9,752 postal votes.
It is likely he will form a coalition of several parties, as none of the groupings at Borough Hall has an absolute majority. Mr Branston included members of all parties in his final cabinet, including independent councillors.
The race for the mayoralty was one of the most high-profile elections in the UK this year.
A number of prominent politicians came to the borough to support their candidates, with Conservative leader David Cameron visiting Bedford twice, as well as two other Conservative shadow cabinet members.
Both Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg and his deputy Vince Cable came to Bedford on consecutive days, while former independent MP Martin Bell visited to show his support for fellow independent Apu Bagchi.
To see stories from throughout the election campaign, visit our dedicated section
here.
How did Dave Hodgson respond when we asked him to answer your questions? Click
here to see our video.
What do you think of the election result? Were you surprised that the major parties still finished top, or do you believe that the days of Bedford's 'independents' are finished? And what are the key challenges now facing Mayor Dave Hodgson?
Email us your thoughts to
editorial@timesandcitizen.co.uk