He stands outside, elbows on railing, blackberry hugged to his right ear.

He slowly lowers the phone, his head hangs momentarily, small puffs of breath escape as his shoulders slump.

His head raises, he scans the grounds of LeBourdais Park, a park he’s planted trees in, commemorated benches, given speeches, watched ball games and concerts.

His bird’s eye view is courtesy of Shiraoi House, Quesnel’s sister city, a building which bears his name in raised bronze lettering:

Mayor Nate Bello.

He turns, swings open the glass door, spots his wife, makes his way to the front of the room, turns off the radio and begins his concession speech.

He tells them he’s thankful, tells them they worked hard, “but this time they came up short.”

Mayor Nate Bello after nine years as councillor and six as leader of Quesnel no longer heads up the Gold Pan City.

Long-time Coun. Mary Sjostrom took the title Saturday night with a final vote of 1,856; Bello came in at 1,606.

His supporters shook their heads, his wife Maggie wiped silent tears and low moans of “no” could be heard as Bello nodded his head, confirming his loss.

His brief speech congratulated Sjostrom on her win, again thanked all his supporters, his family and the community.

His voice steady, his hands jammed into trouser pockets, Bello’s voice was steady, low, he pursed his lips and took deep breaths.

Then as he began talking about the city he’s committed 15 years to as an elected official, his tone changed, his eyes narrowed, his hands pounded out his points.

“I love this place,” he said, pointing his right index finger down.

“And I love the people.

“And I hope it continues to move in a positive direction.”

Bello then moved through the crowd, shaking hands, offering kind words and accepting condolences.

Halfway through the masses of well wishers he met his daughter Angela, she stood smack in the middle, her eyes locked on her father’s.

As he pulled her in she sobbed silently on his shoulder, then pulled back and gave him a smile as he wiped a tear from her cheek.

Angela then addressed the crowd, standing atop a chair she thanked her father’s supporters for being her friends and for believing in the man who stood tall at her feet staring up at his youngest, his baby, his ‘little girl.’

“We’ve won,” Maggie said as her daughter climbed down and bear-hugged her dad.

“We’ve definitely won.”