"I'm overwhelmed and I'm completely humbled that Steinbach would pick me."

Those are the words from Steinbach Mayor elect Earl Funk, who took 42 per cent of the votes Wednesday in defeating John Fehr and Paul Neustaedter.

(Lori and Earl Funk)"That so many people would believe in me and vote for me, it absolutely humbles me," he says.

Funk says he believes Steinbach has given him a mandate, which is to be led by openness, transparency and honesty.

"We will be open about expenditures, things we want to do, projects we want to work on," he says. "We will definitely give that to Steinbach because that's what they've asked for."

Funk says the campaign went very well for the most part. Funk says his family did it together with great volunteers. He adds they took regular breaks, so as not to run out of steam.

"We wanted to still have energy in the end," he says. "So we knew we had to pace ourselves."

Funk says the results of this election show that voters know they want to be dealt with in a very respectful way.

"And I will give them that," he says.

Funk notes after the new council is oriented, his first order of business will be to start working on economic development and bring jobs to Steinbach.