The Dunstable Northfields ward by-election for the seat on Central Beds Council vacated by the late Denise Green was won by Bev Coleman.
The independent candidate secured 434 votes, ahead of Conservative candidate Jeannette Freeman on 305 votes.
Labour candidate Duncan Ross came third with 297 votes, while Garry Lelliot of UKIP came fourth with 227 votes.
Lynda Walmsley of the Liberal Democrats attracted 35 votes to finish fifth.
The voting turnout for the by-election was 19.2 per cent out of a total electorate of 6,794
Mrs Green passed away unexpectedly in her home in Totternhoe Road on June 27.
She was the widow of Councillor Tony Green – a former Mayor of Dunstable.
The MP for South West Beds Andrew Selous – for whom Mrs Green was constituency secretary – said shortly after her pasing: “Denise was a very kind and caring person who always went out of her way to help and look after other people.
“I am greatly saddened by her death and send my deepest condolences to her family and friends.”
Councillors held a minute’s silence in her memory at Thursday’s meeting (September 12).