BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. -- Altoona mayor-elect William Schirf is celebrating a victory after taking the win from Jan Mills.

Schirf is a democrat and has been very active in Altoona for the past 35 years. He spent the past four years on city council alongside Mayor Wayne Hippo who decided not to run for a second term.

Schirf said that he would like to continue in Hippo's footsteps, especially when it comes to cleaning up blight and crime in the city. He said he would also like to work on developing downtown and bringing more jobs to the area.

Schift said he wants to be a full-time mayor, and even turned down a job so that he could always be available for the people of the city.