His opponent drove voters to the polls by the van-full, but still South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard managed to retain his spot on the city’s dais after winning a Valentine’s Day election.

“This means we have two more years to do good things in the city,” Stoddard said.

The Florida International University biology professor-turned politico beat challenger Julio Robaina with 1,113 votes, compared to Robaina’s 823, according to unofficial returns.

Marathon runner Josh Liebman and well-known local activist “Bicycle Bob” Welsh also won elections for commission groups 2 and 3, respectively. Both are new to elected office, but Welsh is known for pedaling around town distributing flyers about city issues.

Stoddard’s supporters cheered, and his wife gave him a peck on the lips when the results were announced just after 7:30 p.m. in the commission chamber at City Hall.

The win split up perceived slate mates, which became a hot issue during the election — even leading to name-calling among candidates.

On one side: former mayor and former state representative Robaina appeared to campaign alongside Liebman and group 3 hopeful Armando Oliveros, a former vice mayor who stepped down from his first term in office to face money-laundering charges. Oliveros was later convicted and served seven years in federal prison.

On the other side: Sally Philips, who lost to Liebman, was lumped in with perceived slate-mates Stoddard and Welsh.

High school teacher Gabriel Edmond also ran for group 3, but was not aligned with any other candidates.

The potential for over-development in the city, a perennial issue in South Miami, was among the race’s top issues. Tuesday night’s winners, with the exception of Liebman, are perceived to be less inclined to allow the construction of big, tall buildings in the small city of about 12,000 residents, but only a couple of square miles.

That’s why Ann Hoffman, 52, voted for Stoddard and Welsh.

“They need to be watchdogs against corporate interests, the mega-developers who want to over-develop,” she said.

Still, Stoddard on Tuesday said among the things he’s looking forward to in his next term is the possibility of approving new “smart” development in the city as developers come forward as the economy improves.

Stoddard’s win comes in the face of many accusations leveled against him during the election. Among them: that he contaminated city water by digging an unpermitted pond in his backyard and even patently untrue rumors that he had a record of drug-dealing.

Robaina’s loss is added to recent failed bids for a Miami-Dade County Commission seat and an unsuccessful run for the Florida Senate.

Stoddard catapulted into office in 2010 through his crusade against Florida Power and Light’s plan to run high-voltage power lines through the city. He has championed “green” issues, such as installing the city’s first bike lanes, and says his administration has helped lead to the city’s financial stability and low taxes. Follow @Cveiga on Twitter.