Four years ago Jeff Scrima — the political newcomer — won the five-person mayoral primary and used that momentum to win the general election over incumbent Larry Nelson.
Now, four years later, Scrima is the incumbent and finds himself in a similar position as Nelson in 2010, as downtown attorney Shawn Reilly is the front-runner after being the top vote-getter in Tuesday's mayoral primary.
Unofficial results show Reilly received 1,505 votes or 35 percent of the overall vote, edging Scrima (1,421 or 33 percent) by 84 votes.
The two will battle in the general election April 1.
Common Council President Terry Thieme finished third with 1,193 votes, or 28 percent of the vote.
Mike Volpano, a company trainer for a financial market research company, was fourth with 164 votes (about 4 percent).
Reilly and Scrima will square off in their first debate at 7 p.m. March 3 at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha.
City attorney
The city attorney race will come down to former Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Rick Congdon and local attorney Brian Running, the top two vote-getters in the primary.
Attorney Christopher Wiesmueller finished third and is eliminated.
Congdon received 1,666 votes or 42 percent of the vote. Running captured 1,374 votes (34 percent), while Wiesmueller had 944 votes (24 percent).
The winner will replace longtime city attorney Curt Meitz, who is retiring after a 28-year career.
County Board District 10
Waukesha County Supervisor 10 David Swan finished first in his three-person primary on Tuesday with 306 votes.
He will face Mark Myers, a pastor/paraeducator, in the general election; Myers finished second with 162 votes.
Michael Wandrey was third with 105 votes.
This seat represents wards in the City of Waukesha, City of Pewaukee and Town of Brookfield.