Howard wins Lancaster mayor election

John Howard, mayor pro tem in Lancaster, was elected Tuesday to be mayor in a special election held after the November death of former Mayor Joe Shaw.

Howard, 65, easily won the election among six candidates with 500 votes – more than 150 votes beyond the closest challenger.

Howard, a 33-year Lancaster City Council incumbent, will serve as Lancaster’s mayor through 2018.

His ascendency to the top spot means voters in Lancaster will have to return to the polls to fill his term that expires in 2018.

This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 3:57 PM with the headline "Howard wins Lancaster mayor election."