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JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Secular high-tech investor Nir Barkat has defeated ultra-orthodox contender Rabbi Meir Porush in Jerusalem's mayoral race, according to election results released Wednesday.
A Palestinian resident of Jerusalem casts his ballot in that city's mayoral election Tuesday.
The Election Commission estimated voter turnout at close to 40 percent in an election that observers said may decide whether Jerusalem will be a secular or religious city.
Barkat won Tuesday's contest with 52 percent of the vote, while Porush got 43 percent, according to the Election Commission. Russian-Israeli billionaire Arkady Gaydamak received less than 4 percent.
Barkat will replace ultra-orthodox Mayor Uri Lupolianski.
During his campaign, Porush tried to calm fears that Jerusalem is becoming an ultra-orthodox community.
"I want to assure all the residents of Jerusalem. I am a haredi (ultra-orthodox Jew), but I don't have horns, and I haven't come to poke anyone. My slogan is that Jerusalem will love Porush, and I will prove this true," he told CNN.
He had publicly apologized for a previous comment that "in another 10 years there won't be a single secular mayor anywhere except in some rundown village." iReport: Watch scenes from the election
Barkat favors -- as does Porush -- keeping Israeli control of the entire city of Jerusalem, and continuing to build Jewish settlements in Arab East Jerusalem, which Palestinians want as the capital of a future state.
The main task for the new mayor will be the economic decline of Jerusalem. It is the poorest of Israel's three largest cities, with about a third of its 730,000 residents living below the poverty line, according to government figures.
All About Jerusalem • Israel • Palestinian Politics
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