MASTERTON businessman Garry Daniell was yesterday confirmed as the district's deputy mayor, replacing Rod McKenzie.
Mr Daniell was recommended to the first meeting of the new council by Mayor Bob Francis as his choice of deputy and was elected unopposed.
The first councillor to congratulate Mr Daniell was Mr McKenzie who said
he had enjoyed his nine-year tenure as deputy.
"You will probably have nine years as deputy too Garry," he said.
Mr McKenzie said he had wondered how John Mitchell felt at the time he had been dumped as All Black coach.
"This week I think I learned how he must have felt."
Councillor Brent Goodwin proposed a vote of thanks to Mr McKenzie for the work he had done as deputy, and this was carried unanimously.
Apart from selecting a deputy mayor and deciding on the membership of council committees, little official business was transacted at the meeting apart from each councillor making a statutory declaration to faithfully and impartially perform their duties in the best interests of the district.
The public gallery was full, being mostly made up of family and friends of individual councillors.
After the meeting Mr Francis invited all those in the chamber to supper.
