"I wish Annette the best in her retirement and don't envy the new mayor or council.
"There are a lot of issues to confront but the most important will remain attracting businesses and jobs to the town and the district."
Mr Laws was mayor from 2004-10 but didn't contest any council position in 2010 saying he wanted to focus on his family. He was back in 2013, beaten in the mayoral race by Ms Main but successful in winning a council seat. He had also served on the district health board.
In 2014 he resigned from council to take up a job in Timaru as development manager at Craighead Diocesan School.
He has since moved to Central Otago with his family.