Casey Newton and Connie Sexton
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 6, 2007 09:39 PM

Phoenix elected its first Hispanic City Council member since 1993 on Tuesday, with voters choosing Michael Nowakowski to represent southwest Phoenix and Laveen.

In a stunning upset, Nowakowski defeated Laura Pastor, a community college administrator and the daughter of Rep. Ed Pastor (D-Ariz.).

In the north and northeast District 3, Jon Altmann was never able to make it out of second place. Maria Baier, who surprassed Altmann with nearly 20 percent more votes during the Sept. 11 primary, didn't quite repeat that margin in Tuesday's runoff but easily sailed to win.

Baier will replace outgoing councilwoman Peggy Bilsten.

Pastor had lined up nearly the entire Democratic political establishment behind her, winning endorsements from Gov. Janet Napolitano, Attorney General Terry Goddard, and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon.

She also raised more than $300,000 through Oct. 1, compared to $146,000 for Nowakowski.

Nowakowski attributed his victory to his campaign advisory team, which included people from all of the district's various minority communities.

"My core group was actually a mirror of District 7, and I think that was the difference," said Nowakowski "You bring people from all different walks of life."

Unions also targeted Pastor with a series of mailers questioning the financial contributions she received from lobbyists.

When he takes office in January, Nowakowski will succeed Councilman Doug Lingner, who was prevented from running again by term limits. Lingner had endorsed Pastor.

Baier said she was "overwhelmed by the generous spirit" of the voters and grateful for their response to her "message of a bright future."

She said she plans to tackle one of the voters' chief concerns: crime. "I want people to feel safe," she said.

Nowakowski and Baier will take office Jan. 2.