With the first batch of votes counted, incumbent Terri Briere and businessman Armondo Pavone have big leads over their opponents and appear to be headed to victory in Tuesday’s Renton city council election.

As of Tuesday evening, Briere had earned 4,286 votes, or 56.08 percent to challenger Beth Asher’s 3,338 votes, or 43.68 percent.

Pavone’s lead was even bigger as he collected 4,672 votes, or 60.11 percent to opponent Stuart Avery’s 3,081 votes, or 39.69 percent.

More results will be released each day, but the size of the gaps will be difficult to make up for Asher and Avery.

After the results were announced, Briere told a packed party of supporters that she was “relieved” and appreciated the “wonderful opportunity to come back” to the council.

Briere said going in to election day she did not have a good feel for how the race would go and credited her opponent with running a good campaign.

“Beth’s campaigned really hard,” she said.

This was Briere’s fourth re-election to the council. She was first appointed in 2000, then won re-election in 2001, 2005 and 2009.

Pavone called the campaign an “amazing experience” and said he really looked forward to getting started on the council.

Pavone thanked his family, his supporters and the volunteers on his campaign. When asked what committees he thought he might like to be a part of, he said planning and development seemed exciting, but he also wanted to see all the different aspects of life on the council.

“I kind of want to experience all of it,” he said.

At their election night party, Asher and Avery, both first-time candidates for council, said they were disappointed but planned to stay involved in city issues.

Both also held out hope that the numbers would shift as more ballots came in.

“We’re not done yet because all the ballots haven’t been counted,” said Asher.

Asher also vowed to run again in the future and build on what she learned in her first campaign.

“We need a change and we’re going to get it,” she said. “Now there are some things I know I will do next time.”

Avery struck a more conciliatory tone and said he had hoped his race would be closer than it appeared on election night. He said he would continue to “plug myself into the community.”

“I care deeply about Renton,” he said, adding that this campaign was a “sharpening experience” for him, though he was not sure if he would run for office again in the future.

“I can’t see this as being a loss for me,” he said, adding that he thought Pavone would do a good job on the council.

“Renton had two good candidates to pick from,” he said.

The next batch of results will be released around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.