HELENA — Emily Dean will become Helena’s next mayor, after she narrowly defeated Andy Shirtliff in a very close election that pitted two current city commissioners against each other.

According to unofficial results , Dean received 5,440 votes to Shirtliff’s 5,237, leaving her ahead 50.6% to 48.7%. Lewis and Clark County elections officials said only provisional ballots remained to count; they will be officially counted Nov. 10.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to have earned your trust to serve as the next Mayor of Helena,” Dean said early Wednesday morning in a statement posted to social media . “Thank you to every Helenan who voted and participated in this election. This campaign was about bringing people together, doing the homework, and delivering real results for our community –

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