DETROIT -- Newly elected Detroit City Council president Charles Pugh and several other incoming candidates made their way to the City Council Chambers Wednesday, although their terms will not officially begin for a few months.

Tuesday's elections promised a new direction for the City Council, where a federal corruption probe led to the conviction of Councilwoman Monica Conyers for taking bribes.

Conyers, wife of Democratic U.S. Rep. John Conyers, is awaiting a January sentencing after admitting to accepting money for her vote on a controversial sludge-hauling contract.

Along with four incumbents who won Tuesday, there will be five fresh faces on the nine-member board.

Former TV anchor Pugh received the most votes and will replace Cockrel as council president. The top vote-getter automatically wins the council presidency.

Wednesday Pugh visited council chambers to see how things works.

"I'm a nerd. I love learning new things. I love throwing myself into new projects," Pugh said while on the tour. He met briefly with current council President Ken Cockrel, Jr. Wednesday morning.

"We're going to meet in length on Monday of next week," said Cockrel.

Pugh will become the city's first openly gay city council member.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Pugh had 88,704 votes. Ex-Detroit Deputy Police Chief Gary Brown was second with 80,698 votes.

"Detroit, hold on. Help is on the way," Brown said Tuesday night. He was one of three Detroit police whistle-blowers' who sued the city and Kilpatrick -- leading to the ex-mayor's downfall.

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm said she was pleased to see how the elections in Detroit panned out and she is eager to work with the new city government on Detroit issues.

"Charles Pugh and Gary Brown are great leaders. Brown has a great reputation for integrity. It's a good mix of people with energy and integrity," said Granholm.

Cockrel finished fourth, less than six months after losing to Bing in a May runoff election to complete Kilpatrick's second term as mayor.

Brenda Jones, Kwame Kenyatta and JoAnn Watson also won re-election. Alberta Tinsley-Talabi lost her seat. Other newcomers to the council will be Saunteel Jenkins, Andre Spivey and James Tate. The new council will be seated in January.

"During the campaign there were those of us who identified each other as serious contenders that have likeminded ideas that will move our city forward," said Pugh on Local 4 News Wednesday morning. "You may have noticed the last week or so of the campaign, it became very clear that myself, Gary Brown, Saunteel Jenkins and Andre Spivey had teamed up to send the message that not only were we willing to work together now, but we are all very clear on what needs to."

"I think people are really tired of what they've seen," said Tate, a former civilian deputy chief for the police department. "They're ready for something to actually change and make this place a lot better."

Incumbents Kwame Kenyatta and JoAnn Watson snagged the last two council seats. Kenyatta came in eighth and Watson was last.