Daniell makes mayor

New Mayor of Masterton Garry Daniell stepped up the ranks on Saturday when he snatched the mayoral chains by just 405 votes from businessman Rick Long.
Anything but crowing about his win, former Deputy Mayor Mr Daniell said he was relieved it was all over after lacking confidence in the week leading up to election day.
"I always hoped that I would get there but I was never sure that I would. I'm just relieved it's all over."
Well-wishers and messages of congratulations came from as far as Belgium, Bulgaria, Britain and Australia on Saturday while friends and family helped celebrate with a barbeque at the Daniell household, he said. "I spoke with Rick (Long) about the result as we have been friends for a long time. I know and respect all the mayoral candidates and because of that it was just a straight-out race."
Mr Daniell said he admired all the candidates who put their names forward and regretfully elections can only ever bring success or disappointment for candidates.
"Nothing would have been worse than being the leader of a difficult team. I've been given some very good councillors with great experience as well and I think we can move forward as a council in a positive direction."
The reins will be taken over quietly and changes will be made only if they're necessary, he said.
"I'll be settling in with a meeting first thing on Monday morning and will be taking it quietly until I'm confident of the arena I'm in."
When questioned who is likely to fill the shoes of deputy mayor, Mr Daniell said he had not asked her yet, which leaves the door open for the three female councillors Jane Terpstra, Judith Callaghan and first-time councillor Lyn Patterson.
Top-polling candidate for the Masterton Trust Lands Trust, Mr Daniell said he was very proud to be re-elected as a fourth generation Daniell on the trust.
Mr Long was "naturally disappointed" with the result but not surprised he missed out. "I knew when I had some polling and a survey done some weeks ago that Garry was going to be hard to beat."
He commended Mr Daniell, saying he will be a good mayor and after waiting in the wings for many years as a "faithful deputy to Bob" he deserves the position.
"He will have my full support."
Mr Long said he had a loyal campaign committee and had received several unsolicited donations that "will lessen the personal costs of running such a high-profile campaign".
"I am absolutely relaxed about losing the contest and will have my hands full back at the Sign Factory.
"A few months ago we lost a valued and much loved employee in Dick Newcombe and I hadn't replaced him, expecting to take over his client base after the election," he said.
Fulltime graphic design work beckons Mr Long, who said: "Bob's shoes would have been hard to fill and so too will Dick's."
Social worker Jeff Workman polled last in the mayoral election with 528 votes and was surprised the vote margins weren't closer.
"I'm disappointed I didn't get the mayoralty and I think Garry's win is representative of people playing it safe and going for experience."
Masterton district councillor Chris Peterson said he was disappointed with the amount of votes he received for mayor but is satisfied the new council will be a good one after being re-elected in the at-large ward.
"Perhaps the environmental issues I campaigned on have not got a lot of traction at this point."
With only 97 per cent of the Masterton votes collected and ahead by 37 votes, re-elected rural ward councillor Roddy McKenzie said he is still a bit nervous about his seat.
"I expected Garry to win and I'm disappointed but haven't lost any sleep over it. If you're going to get upset about these things then you shouldn't bother to run."
Mr McKenzie said he is pleased for his rural competition, Graham McClymont, but after "fighting for the rural ward for so long I am a bit surprised", he said.
Masterton district councillor Jonathan Hooker said he was feeling confident throughout the election and was "deflated" after hearing the results.
"Everyone said it would come down to Garry and Rick but I thought that would cause the votes to split and that I might have come through."
Mr Hooker said he is now unemployed and looking for job offers after resigning from the church minister role at Oasis.
"It's a case of waiting to see what responsibilities Garry is going to give out to the councillors but obviously I still need to have a job as well," he said.