MARIETTA - Van Pearlberg will remain Marietta's Ward 4 councilman, winning an overwhelming 89 percent of the vote over challenger Wes Godwin.

Pearlberg earned 1,339 votes to Godwin's 172 (11 percent). There were also two write-in votes.

Ward 4 has 6,934 registered voters, the most of any ward in the city. Considering 1,513 total votes cast, turnout was nearly 22 percent.

"I'm absolutely elated," Pearlberg said of his victory.

Godwin took Pearlberg to court in September, arguing that Pearlberg's work as a city councilman conflicted with his full-time job as an assistant district attorney in Cobb. Neither the Cobb Board of Elections or Cobb Superior Court agreed.

Pearlberg said that he felt Godwin's motives were clear when he tried to get the councilman removed from office. "I think his goal was, obviously, if I was thrown out of the way and declared ineligible, he would be seated. That was obviously his intent, whether he would tell you that in person," Pearlberg said.

When asked if beating Godwin after he brought the councilman to court made the win even better for him, Pearlberg said, "Absolutely. It feels good."

Godwin did not return calls for comment. The developer has taken his share of criticism in the past as the recipient of a $400,000 tax allocation district for the Marietta Mill Lofts, a project that has since gone into bankruptcy.

Pearlberg believes the city should help the county in financing the new parking deck to be built near the Marietta Square. He also believes the city needs a stronger ethics code.

"With an overwhelming majority voting for me, I feel like I've done my job for the last four years," Pearlberg said. "Now, it's back to work."

Pearlberg served in the U.S. Coast Guard before joining the Cobb District Attorney's Office.