BEVERLY — Tuesday's election not only determined that Bill Scanlon will serve two more years in the mayor's office. It also established that Mike Cahill has moved to the head of the line as a potential candidate to succeed him.

After a seven-year absence, Cahill returned to the city's political scene with a vengeance. The former state representative topped the City Council at-large field with 6,842 votes, automatically earning the title of council president and unofficially inheriting the mantle of mayoral contender.

Scanlon, who is 69 and has been mayor for 14 years, has not said whether this will be his last term. If Scanlon chooses not to run in 2011, Cahill's strong showing on Tuesday puts him on the logical list of mayoral aspirants.

Cahill was reluctant yesterday to talk about his future prospects before his City Council tenure even begins.

"Right now, I think we're in a good place and I'm excited about doing this work," he said.

Cahill, 47, is no stranger to winning elections. He swept to five straight terms as Beverly's state representative, including two victories over future Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, and served 10 years at the Statehouse.

Cahill stepped down to run for state treasurer in 2002 but lost in the Democratic primary. He is now executive director of the YMCAs of Massachusetts, the umbrella agency for all of the state's YMCAs. He's also a lawyer.

Cahill comes from a well-known Beverly family. His late father served as a city alderman, his late mother was a longtime schoolteacher, and one of his five brothers is a former School Committee president. He has also remained active in the community, including as a founder of the Beverly Education Roundtable advocacy group and as a youth sports coach.

But there were questions about whether he could overcome the seven years since his name last appeared on a ballot.

"We tried to do all the things we could to connect with people and build support," Cahill said. "I'm very grateful that people have shown that belief that I can help. I didn't expect (to win the top spot), but I was also trying to get there."

Cahill edged out former City Council President Paul Guanci by only 76 votes for the council presidency. But the win was impressive considering Guanci, who is also considered a potential mayoral candidate, had topped the ticket the last three times he ran for City Council.

Guanci acknowledged that Cahill's showing on Tuesday could boost Cahill's stock as a mayoral candidate.

"I think so," Guanci said. "I think that's already on Michael's plate sooner or later."

Guanci, who earned an at-large seat along with third-place finisher and incumbent Pat Grimes, said he was not surprised that Cahill topped the ticket. Guanci said Cahill spent more time campaigning door to door, and it showed up at the polls.

Guanci said he also did not fare as well as he usually does in Ward 3, which he attributed to his past conflicts with Ward 3 City Councilor John Burke, who lost to Scanlon in the race for mayor.

"People in Ward 3 know John Burke and I have a bit of a past," Guanci said. "I assume they would've supported someone else, and why not Michael because Michael has never been on the council."

As council president, Cahill said he wants to promote business growth "in the appropriate areas" in order to grow the city's tax base in difficult financial times. He plans to sit down with Scanlon and each of the councilors "to find out where the shared priorities are and to try to promote that as a direction and an agenda for the city."

"I think our council can help to move the city forward in a very positive way," he said. "We're in a tough time, but that doesn't mean we should just be hanging on or falling back."

Staff writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2675 or by e-mail at pleighton@salemnews.com.

Beverly electionS

Turnouts

2009 — 41 percent

2007 — 27 percent

2005 — 41 percent

2003 — 46 percent

2001 — 44 percent

1999 — 48 percent

1997 — 39 percent

Scanlon's margins of victory (opponent)

2009 — 59-41 percent (John Burke)

2007 — 73-25 percent (Euplio Marciano)

2005 — 60-40 percent (Pat Lucci)

2003 — 59-41 percent (Tom Crean)

2001 — 49-51 percent (Tom Crean)*

1999 — 60-40 percent (Phil Dunkelbarger)

1997 — 54-46 percent (Phil Dunkelbarger)

1995 — 85-15 percent (Jack Monahan)

1993 — 62-37 percent (Bill Gelwick)

* Crean beat Scanlon