Garry Webber has been elected new Western Bay of Plenty mayor
Garry Webber has been elected new Western Bay of Plenty mayor
Garry Webber has been elected Western Bay of Plenty mayor in a tightly contested race.
With 95 per cent of all votes counted he leads on 3592 votes, more than 1000 votes ahead of runner-up Gwenda Merriman.
David Marshall, Peter Mackay and Mike Williams look set to become councillors forthe Katikati-Waihi Beach ward although only 125 votes separates fourth placed Ross Goudie from Mr Williams who currently has 1606 votes.
Phil Bowyer is only 169 votes behind Mr Williams.
Don Thwaites, Margaret Murray-Benge, Mark Dean and John Palmer have been elected Kaimai Ward councillors - well ahead of the other candidates.
In the Maketu-Te Puke ward Kevin Marsh, John Scrimgeour, Mike Lally and Grant Dally look set to represent the ward although Karyl Gunn-Thomas is only 97 votes shy of Mr Dally in fourth place.
New mayor Garry Webber spoke to the Bay of Plenty Times just after the results were announced, and outlined what he would do as mayor.
"First and foremost, I'll be thanking all the people who voted for me, who got out there and voted, it's pretty critical democracy continues.
"The big task now is taking Western Bay from good to great, it really starts on Monday morning, and plan from where to from here."
"It's not that there is too much criticism of the past, but we just have to step up another level to really perform on the behalf of the rate payers."
Preliminary results, not including special votes, would be available by midday tomorrow.
Final results would be available by Thursday, October 13.
It was anticipated an inaugural meeting of council would take place in November.
Preliminary Western Bay of Plenty community board results
Katikati Community Board (four seats) Elected Ben Warren - 1870 Brendan Gibbs - 1713 Jenny Hobbs - 1618 Norm Mayo - 1358
Not elected Sam Dunlop - 1305 Brian Martin - 701
Waihi Beach Community Board (four seats) Elected Brian Hepenstall - 703 Ruth Parsons - 686 Allan Sole - 630 Marylin Roberts - 630
Not elected Derek Mills - 447
Te Puke Community Board (four seats) Mike Lally* - 1418 Grant Dally* - 1375 Peter Miller - 1175 Bev Button - 1004 Joan Dugmore - 936 *Because Mr Dally and Mr Lally were also elected as Maketu-Te Puke Ward councillors there will need to be a by-election for one position, while the fifth polling candidate (Joan Dugmore) will be declared elected as a member of the Te Puke board.
