WARREN —Town Council Vice President David Frerichs has been the big winner for the past two elections, but it doesn’t look like he’ll win the council presidency this year.

After several conversations with his fellow council members, the Democrat elected to his second term last week says he doesn’t have enough votes to take the top spot from current President Frank Alfano. The veteran council member was the second-place finisher behind Frerichs in the 2004 election and in last week’s vote.

“I have nothing against Frank. He really has done an excellent job. I just feel that I have the talents to do it,” said Frerichs, who said the position traditionally goes to the council member who receives the most votes in the general election.

Alfano trailed Frerichs by more than 400 votes in last week’s race, which ousted Republican incumbent Christopher Stanley and gave Democratic Planning Board chairman John Hanley a seat. Independent incumbent Joseph DePasquale and Councilman Louis Rego, a Democrat, were reelected.

Frerichs received 388 more votes than Alfano in the 2004 election.

Hanley, who will be inducted at tonight’s council meeting, said he plans to nominate Frerichs for the council president seat.

“I think it’s time to give him a chance,” he said.

Other council members indicate Hanley and Frerichs will likely be outvoted.

“When things aren’t broken you don’t fix them,” said DePasquale, who said he will vote to keep the current leadership at tonight’s council meeting.

“I’m happy with the direction the council is moving in, and I think Frank runs a good meeting,” he said.

Rego said he will also vote for Alfano at tonight’s meeting.

“I don’t see anybody who would be more qualified. I don’t think it’s even an issue,” he said.

It may be.

Frerichs, who did not seek the council president seat in 2004 so he could gain more town experience, says he and Alfano had an understanding that Frerichs would be council president if he received the most votes this year. But recent conversations with Alfano indicate the president hopes to keep his seat, Frerichs said.

“It’s up to the council,” he said.

Alfano would not say whether he wants the president’s seat, but said he and Frerichs agree that focusing on Warren is the most important issue.

Frerichs said the issue may be connected to Alfano and Rego not gaining endorsements from the Democratic Town Committee this year. Rego and Alfano, the council’s veteran members, said the snub was a result of a dispute over whether to appoint Democratic Town Committee Chairman Anthony DaSilva as harbormaster after the 2004 election. DaSilva has said the candidates didn’t request an endorsement.

Frerichs, who campaigned with Alfano and Rego as well as with the endorsed candidates, said he was placed in the middle of the dispute.

“They seem to feel that if I am Town Council president it gives a victory to the Democratic Party, who didn’t endorse them,” Frerichs said.

Alfano said that issue has “no bearing on council decisions at all.”

Rego said Alfano will get his vote simply because the 16-year veteran is the most qualified.

“I’m going to do what’s best, and what’s best is having the best man for the job, which is clearly Frank Alfano,” he said.

With two votes on either side going into tonight’s meeting, it appears the answer to the council president question lies with Alfano.

Whichever way the votes fall, Frerichs says he’s looking forward to continuing to work for Warren.

“If he’s got the votes, I’m going to forge full speed ahead for the benefit of the town,” he said.