Sep. 16--Toledo voters turned out in low numbers yesterday to select lawyer Keith Wilkowski and retired fire chief Mike Bell to run against each other for mayor on Nov. 3 to replace retiring Democratic Mayor Carty Finkbeiner.

Voters chose two men who were city department heads, graduated from Woodward High School in 1973, hold University of Toledo diplomas, and live five blocks apart in Old Orchard.

Mr. Wilkowski, 53, a Democrat, is expected to get that party's endorsement. Mr. Bell, 54, a lifelong Democrat, ran as an independent.

"I feel very good about how the campaign has gone," Mr. Wilkowski said after joining supporters at Michael's Bar & Grill downtown to watch the vote totals arrive.

"I know that we've worked tremendously hard and the results that we've seen are the result of hard work, hard work that we will do on behalf of Toledoans to put people to work, create jobs, and turn the economy around," Mr. Wilkowski said.

Mr. Bell spent the evening with supporters at Tango's Mexican Cantina at the Docks. "This is a horse race and we're going to keep pushing," he said.

"We've also proven it does not hurt to reach out to both sides of the line. People want to see change. I'm time tested under fire. When people are able to see both candidates there will be obvious differences."

First-time political Republican Jim Moody came in third, beating a sitting city councilman, inde-pendent D. Michael Collins, and Democrat Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop. Opal Covey was a distant sixth.

Mr. Moody ruled out any more political campaigns.

"I laid it out there for Toledo voters to choose and they chose and I'm OK with that," said Mr. Moody, 48, a Realtor who was a virtual unknown before he started campaigning.

"I very much liked my life before I got in this deal and I'm going back to that life," he said.

Mr. Konop, 33, said he was disappointed but would work to elect Mr. Wilkowski mayor.

"We put in a lot of hard work in the campaign and did try to stand up for folks in the community who normally don't have a voice, so I'm proud of that. I will be proudly supporting Mr. Wilkowski in the general election as a fellow Democrat," Mr. Konop said.

Mr. Collins said, "I wish both Mr. Bell and Mr. Wilkowski the best of luck. I respect the process and the voters. That's what an election is all about."

Mr. Bell, the city's fire chief from 1990 to 2007 and the state fire marshal from then until last April, campaigned on a platform emphasizing leadership and communication.