Change was the catchword of this year's CHB local body elections, and the voters sent a strong message to that effect on Saturday, resulting in seven new faces around the council table, including mayor Alex Walker.
It was a decisive victory for the Waipukurau businesswoman who ran a campaign promoting a young, fresh, positive approach to council leadership in the district.
Preliminary results released yesterday showed Ms Walker secured 3,535 votes, well ahead of fellow candidate Sally Butler with 1,631 and Gerard Pain, with 725.
Asked whether she expected the result to be so emphatic, she said she was thrilled and amazed at the outcome, as well as humbled.
Getting down to business, she said the first step would be to get the new council team together and start working on getting the priorities sorted out, as well as spending some time at the council offices getting to know the people there.