Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule is the National Party candidate for Tukituki in the upcoming general elections.
He will be up against Labour's candidate Anna Lorck in the race for the seat this September.
In December last year Tukituki MP Craig Foss announced he would not be standing in this year's
election - leaving the candidacy open for the first time since 2005.
Candidates were unable to talk to the media while the selection process was underway, but Mr Yule was considered the front runner.
The final selection meeting was held last night with three candidates putting their hands up for the party nomination - Mr Yule, Hastings district councillor and unsuccessful mayoral candidate Adrienne Pierce and Hastings resident and former air force pilot David Elliott.
Hawke's Bay Today understands that Mr Yule won by four votes in the first round of voting.
After the meeting, Mr Yule said was he looking forward to going down this career path.
"I am humbled by the support I've received."
Mr Yule told Hawke's Bay Today in January that if successful, he would remain working full-time as mayor until June 30, in order to fulfil a commitment he had made to resolve Hastings' water issues.
A byelection will be enforced as the mayoralty position comes up for grabs.
New Zealand Taxpayers' Union executive director Jordan Williams estimated ratepayers would pay between $90,000 to $100,000.
Mr Williams said this cost was revealed after the union asked the council for its calculation of the anticipated costs of such an election.
"While no price can be put on democracy, the figure puts into perspective the promises to not make a tilt at Parliament that Mr Yule made when seeking to be re-elected last year as mayor of Hastings," Mr Jordan said earlier.
"It's obvious that Mr Yule should have been upfront at the time, given the huge costs that are now likely to fall on ratepayers," he said.
Ratepayers could also be hit a second time with sitting councillors likely to contest the mayoralty.
This would mean a second by-election would be required to fill a council seat.
Ms Lorck said she phoned Mr Yule last night to congratulate him and said she was looking forward to a great campaign between the pair.
"This will be a hard fought campaign and I will be playing with a straight bat, it's an exciting time for great change for Hastings and Tukituki."
She said she will be looking to challenge the issues that are impacting on peoples lives and that is what she will be campaigning hard on and challenging Mr Yule and his National Party on.
"I am representing new aspirational leadership injecting vibrancy while standing on my proven platform of leading on local issues such as housing, health, education, water and jobs."
