Whanganui's district council was sworn in on Wednesday and its leader, mayor Hamish McDouall, made it patently clear he expects councillors to play the ball and not the man.
In his inaugural address to the council's first meeting since the elections Mr McDouall said the voter turnout in Whanganui proved "the beacon of democracy" burned brighest here.
But he said the result also signalled the community wanted change on the council, voting in a mix of youth, business and financial acumen, infrastructure nous, and the experience and passion of five returning councillors.
"Some people were concerned about party politics entering local government. Some were concerned about the negativity of the election campaign bleeding over into the new era of council.
"But I'm least concerned with that because the 12 people alongside me all have qualities. Not a single one of them wants to see Whanganui fail or go backwards. It's forward we are heading and we're going to get there together."