Zaryd Wilson
Neil Holdom snatched the New Plymouth mayoralty against what a few months ago were considered to be long odds.
Mr Holdom admits he was not a front runner at the start of the campaign but managed to find momentum.
"I have pretty good networks in Taranaki and have worked on focusing on the things that I believe in and really simple stuff," he said.
"Council's about roads, water, wastewater, that sort of basic infrastructure.