EAST PROVIDENCE — Former Mayor Joseph S. Larisa Jr. appears to have regained his at-large seat on the City Council with 73 percent of the city’s 24 polling places tallied by the state Board of Elections.

The high-profile lawyer collected more than 58 percent of East of the vote to 41.6 percent for former City Manager Paul E. Lemont. Six precincts had not been tallied as of 11 p.m. lasts night, including a possible 1,263 votes from the polls at the Montessori School on Grove Avenue, where the polls were closed for hours in the morning after a suspicious white powder was found. The school remained open for voting until 10 p.m. to compensate. remained open until 10 p.m., one hour later than the other sites, to compensate for the time it was closed.

There are also 1,038 mail ballots still to be counted.

“I thank the people of East Providence for their overwhelming show of support,” Larisa said. “It will be an honor and a privilege to represent them once again.”

The 45-year-old was last on the council from 2004 to 2006 when he successfully championed a 3.5 percent tax levy cap that is as stringent as any in the state. He also served on the council from 1992 to 2002.

apina@projo.com