New Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate has named former journalist and second term councillor Geoff Taylor as her deputy.
Southgate said she had appointed Taylor because they shared the same vision for the city and would make a good team.
Southgate said while she and Geoff didn't agree on everything, they shared the same vision for Hamilton and had very high expectations of this Council and what it must achieve over the next three years. Taylor will also chair the CBD/River Plan Working Group.
Taylor campaigned on bringing life back in to the CBD and led an initiative to introduce free parking.
She has also given the chair role of the four main committees to seasoned councillors. Former accountant Rob Pascoe will the lead the finance committee, Angela O'Leary will head the infrastructure operations committee, Dave Macpherson will chair strategic growth and Mark Bunting is chair of the Community committee.