NEWBURYPORT - Voters elected four new members to the 11-member City Council, a shift some say speaks volumes about the direction the voters want the city to go.

After 14 years on the council, Erford Fowler was ousted by Ed Cameron from his Ward 4 seat; incumbent Bruce Vogel lost to Brian Derrivan in Ward 5; and two new women were elected as at-large councilors.

Barry Connell, who was elected to another term as an at-large councilor, said it shows the city's desire for a progressive council.

"It seems to me the forces in support of progressive government got a real boost tonight," Connell said in the council chambers in City Hall after the election results were read off, specifically referring to candidates Donna Holaday and Kathleen O'Connor Ives, who were elected to at-large positions, and Cameron.

"I think that says something about the way the city wants to go."

Connell said that progressive movement is seen the most clearly in Ward 4, where Cameron beat Fowler 517 to 438.

"I think that is probably the strongest evidence you'll find," he said.

James Shanley, the Ward 3 councilor who ran unopposed, said he was very excited to work with the new council.

"I think this is potentially going to be a fabulous council," he said. "All I can say is fasten your seat belts."

Holaday earned 3,045 votes to top the at-large councilor list, which will return the former councilor to the council chambers. Her vote tally was the highest of anyone last night, including Mayor John Moak's vote total of 3,007.

"I think it means the citizens want change on the City Council," Holaday, a former councilor and mayoral candidate said. "It is clear: people really felt the council was stuck and people weren't working together. The city is ready; it wants movement."

Cameron, 40, who has a background in city government, said he is looking forward to serving the city and bringing a new face to Ward 4.

"I want to acknowledge Fowler's many years of service to the city and I look forward to working with the mayor, City Council and the School Committee on municipal reform, education, the waterfront and a senior center," Cameron said.

Fowler spent yesterday holding signs with Cameron.

"Ed did a wonderful job, he worked very hard at getting elected and I'm pleased," Fowler said. "He seems like a very nice guy, I'm not unhappy after putting 14 years in. I feel very pleased I was able to serve that long."

In Ward 5, Derrivan upset Vogel, a multi-term councilor.

"I'm overwhelmed and I hope I won't let anybody down," Derrivan said. "I'm just excited right now and glad the people trusted me with their votes."

"I want to try to dissolve the disconnect between the council, the mayor's office and the School Committee," he continued. "This was the biggest thing I was running on."

Ward 2 councilor Gregory Earls secured a fourth term with 519 votes. His challenger, Chris Cronin, earned 337 votes.

The at-large winners included, Holaday, Connell, Ives and incumbents Steve Hutcheson and Tom Jones. Connell came in second with 2,554 votes, Jones in third with 2,185 votes, Ives in fourth with 2,077 votes and Hutcheson in fifth with 1,874 votes.

Ives, who only moved to the city at the beginning of the year and is studying to take the bar exam, said it was through hard work and talking with people that she was able to convince people she was the right person for the job.

"I went out there everyday and I talked to people," she said. "I went to meetings and I learned a lot. I look forward to working with everybody on the council. There is a lot of work to be done."

Gary Roberts was the only incumbent to lose his at-large seat. He came in sixth out of the 10 candidates with 1,799 votes. Former mayors Al Lavender and Mary Carrier earned 1,768 and 1,649 votes, respectively.

Chris O'Donnell, 39, said he voted for Cameron after reading a brochure and looking up the candidate's platform on the internet, much of what he agrees with.

"I just loved his ideas," he said.

Also, O'Donnell said he also liked Cameron's work history. Cameron is the associate executive director of Housing and Homeless Services at Community Teamwork in Lowell and has worked in the field for years.

"He's worked in fields that require a lot of heart," O'Donnell said.

Brad Pierce, a 35-year-old banker who lives on Carter Street, said he voted for Cameron to get a new face into office.

"He someone younger, a breath of fresh air," he said.

Marlen Clark, who lives on Wilson Way, said she voted for Holaday, a personal friend, because of her experience.

"I think she has a great background to be a councilor," she said, referring to Holaday's past council experience and her history as a grant writer. "I think she'll continue where she left off."