EAST CHICAGO | Democrat George Pabey bested three challengers Tuesday to handily win election to a second term as mayor.

"It feels good that finally -- after so many fights -- we get to do four years," Pabey told the jubilant crowd at American Legion Allied Post 369. "We are going to work very hard to bring East Chicago back to what it used to be."

Though 2008 will mark Pabey's second term, it will be the first time the former city police chief will get to serve a full term because pervasive vote fraud allowed former Mayor Robert Pastrick to serve an extra year in office in 2004.

With cameras flashing, Pabey posed with his team of councilmen and elected city officials and declared victory for the Democratic Party, of which he became chairman in September after his rival Anthony Copeland stepped down.

"This city has always been Democratic," Pabey said.

Pabey more than doubled the vote tally of his closest challenger, independent Carla Morgan. His other two challengers, Republican Arthur Santos and independent Ronald Hayes, fell far behind.

Pabey said city residents can look forward to many physical improvements in the city, including construction of the long-delayed Railroad Avenue overpass and upgrades at Callahan and Clemente parks.

Asked whether he would work on tax relief in the next four years, Pabey said he alone does not have that power.

"Nobody can fix that problem except the state legislators," Pabey said. "We've been working with the four mayors and the County Council to fix that problem."

Morgan said she knew she didn't have a chance, being a political novice with no money going against a large Democratic machine.

"The East Chicago Democratic Party does not represent Democratic ideals," she said. "It has abandoned the principles of working-class people."