A council spokesperson said that should a sitting councillor win the position of mayor then a second election, at a later date, would be held in the ward from which that councillor came.
Dates for that would not be set until it was known if a second by-election was needed.
To date, acting Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst, acting deputy mayor Simon Nixon, councillor Bayden Barber and Crownthorpe's Stuart Perry had confirmed their intentions to stand for mayor.
Jason Whaitiri, who ran in the Heretaunga ward at last year's local body elections, had put his hand up again and started erecting billboards in the district, particularly around his home base of Whakatu.
The father of three children and two grandchildren, who works at Silver Fern Farms, said he was ready to stand again after being narrowly defeated by Ann Redstone in last year's elections.
He said he brought governance skills from his experience on the board of Clive School, and was also a volunteer for the Cape Coastal Community Patrol.
His experience as a referee with the Hawke's Bay Rugby Referee Association for nearly 10 years had also helped him build up a thick skin and an ability to make decisions quickly.
He said the core issues he would like to see addressed were the need for the council to stick to its core infrastructure business such as roads and water, for the council to help address the need for affordable housing and fairer waste management charges.
A newcomer contesting the councillor position this year was Hastings resident Rion Roben, who said he decided some time ago that he would like to put his hat in the ring.
He said he moved from Auckland to Hawke's Bay about three years ago and was prompted to stand for the first time after reading the parliamentary report on the Havelock North water crisis.
"While there was no one person blamed it made sober reading in terms of diligence - when I saw there was a by-election I thought there were not a lot of people in my age bracket represented in local body politics," said the 38-year-old who lives with his wife and two school-aged children.
Working in the export department of Progressive Meats he said he was interested in assisting with getting central and local government to work together on affordable housing and sought more general accountability surrounding the council's primary services.
Also standing for the first time was nurse and independent midwife Rizwanna Latiff who moved from South Africa to New Zealand in 2000 and then to Hawke's Bay in 2002.
Married with three grown children she had been involved in various community and ethnic organisations including her role as president of the Multicultural Association of Hawke's Bay and vice president of the local branch of Zonta.
She was standing because she felt the council needed more ethnic and gender diversity, and to utilise her skills as an advocate for people in the community.
