KEY POINTS:
The Kapiti coast has what may be New Zealand's only lesbian mayor.
Jenny Rowan, 58, was up against strong contenders for the position left vacant by the retirement of Alan Milne, including former mayor Iride McCloy and regional councillor Chris Turver.
Openly lesbian, though determinedly not campaigning as such - "it's got nothing to do with me being mayor" - Rowan is no stranger to the cut and thrust of the political arena.
She and partner of 20 years, Jools Joslin, were poster girls for the same sex marriage movement in the mid-90s, sealing their relationship in a commitment ceremony in Wellington in 1996 after being refused a licence to marry legally.
Lately deputy chair of the Paekakariki Community Board, Rowan recently retired after 16 years as a commissioner in the Environment Court. She is a former Taranaki Regional Council member and was mayor of the Taranaki township of Inglewood between 1986 and 1989.
Her campaign for the mayoralty of the seaside district north of Wellington got off to a rocky start when she discovered her large billboards fronting State Highway 1 fitted Transit regulations but not the district plan.
The solution? Always the pragmatist - she acted as civil defence co-ordinator during the area's devastating floods in 2003 - Rowan sliced them into thirds with a circular saw.
A mother and grandmother - she and Joslin have six children and two grandchildren between them - Rowan is also a JP and was awarded the Queen's Service Order in 1991.
Passionate about the environment and community, she hesitated when asked about her interests. "Ah ... my job's been very full on so I haven't had much time for interests."
