Natalie Reichl started the day in "better shoes."

By the time the polls closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Reichl, president of the Coplay Public Library board, had changed into more casual sandals in order to deal with the heat.

Dressed in capris and a print top, her white hat revealed she had more at stake in this election than just the library. "Vote Frank Reichl mayor" read a small sign on her hat. It also showed a photo of the candidate – Reichl's husband.

While voters overwhelmingly approved the library referendum (see related story, page 1), Frank Reichl did not fare as well, losing to incumbent Mayor Joseph Bundra 283-163, according to unofficial results.

With no Republican candidates on the ballot, Bundra will win in the general election as long as no one wages a write-in campaign.

"If I lose, I lose," said Frank Reichl to a group of supporters outside the Cherry Street fire hall just after the polls closed.

Bundra was ecstatic. "I'm floating," he said about two hours later, after learning the unofficial tally for the two Coplay voting districts. "I feel so good because now I can just do my job [as mayor]," he said, adding that he is looking forward to working without the pressure of the election.

"I will work hard to stay in touch with the people and communicate with council about their concerns," he said.

Bundra, who was elected to several terms on council before being appointed mayor in February 2012, said he voted in the morning but then stayed away from the polling places as he always does.

When he goes to vote, he already has his mind made up. He doesn't like having campaign literature handed to him and he doesn't want to do that to other people, he said.

Instead, he went to St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church on Fifth Street to help make pierogies. Then he simply hung out with longtime friend Jerry Cook.