Returning Ruataniwha ward councillor Kelly Annand was the highest polling candidate across both wards in Central Hawke's Bay in today's progress result, and said she was very humbled by the outcome.
She said it had been a long haul campaigning over the last few months, and tonight she was looking forward to heading to a birthday party in Hastings and relaxing a little.
"It's a bit of a relief it's all over, we drive around and walk around and are always very conscious of being in the public eye - you have to put your life on hold a bit."
This was something she learnt when she campaigned for the first time in 2013, and she said her profile in the community over the last three years may have contributed to the 1,671 votes she received.
She said she was a little surprised that the mayoral vote was not closer, but thought that it was "a great result with some good people around the table."