GREELEY, Colo. -- Retired police officer Ed Clark ousted Mayor Tom Selders by a wide margin Tuesday after a hard-fought campaign that often centered on illegal immigration.

Clark had 61 percent of the votes to Selders' 39 percent in unofficial final results.

Immigration is a heated issue in Greeley, where a raid by federal immigration agents in December rounded up about 260 Swift & Co. meatpacking plant workers.

Selders has said such raids create community turmoil that could be avoided with better policies. He was criticized for traveling to Washington in May to discuss the impact of the raids.

"When the mayor went to Washington, whether he intended to do it or not, he gave the impression that Greeley isn't a city that enforces its laws. Well, we absolutely are. And when you say one raid is okay and another isn't, that's situational law enforcement. And that's when race does become part of the issue," said mayor-elect Ed Clark.

A group called the Colorado Alliance for a Secure America distributed a campaign mailer accusing Selders of advocating "instant U.S. citizenship" for undocumented workers.

Another group, called the Alliance for a Better Greeley, distributed a mailer accusing Selders of not cracking down enough on gangs.

Clark has said he had nothing to do with the fliers and said he would have won the election whether or not they had appeared.

Clark called his victory "a clear mandate by the people that it's time for a change." He said he will try to foster quality economic growth.

"I can't wait for him to change Greeley," said Clark's 4th grade son Jake.

Clark supports Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck and supports the establishment of an ICE office in Greeley.

Clark worked for 10 years in the Greeley Police Department.

"We worked really hard for this. Day after day after day of campaigning," said Erin Clark, the mayor-elect's wife.

Selders was not available for comment Wednesday.