Cr Chambers received 1300 of the first-preference votes, well clear of Tangambalanga councillor Peter Croucher and almost 500 votes ahead of the next candidate.

“This one’s for Marg,” the former mayor, now 75, said.

“I think she was watching over this one.”

His wife of 52 years, Margaret, died in Melbourne early last month after they had discussed his plans to again run for the council.

But among the fallout from a sometimes bitter and divisive campaign over plans for new council offices in Beechworth were former mayors Vic Issell and Ali Pockley.

Nine of the 19 candidates were from Beechworth, many running in protest at the council’s recent decisions.

Yesterday at a ceremony in Chiltern Cr Chambers said people must debate policy rather than attack each other.

He also suggested sweeping changes to council staff.

“I have a position which I have stated before and will talk to my fellow councillors today regarding past decisions including the planned shire office buildings in Yackandandah and Beechworth,” Cr Chambers said.

“We need to look at staff structure to see whether they are serving the people of Indigo or whether they are serving themselves.

“We need to look at how the budget was put together, not for the nice things but the musts council needs to do.”

Chiltern’s Barb Murdoch was re-elected for a third term.

“This council representation is everything that I really desired in getting a strong representation across the shire,” she said.

Mr Issell said the vote had provided no clear mandate for those opposed to new council offices at Beechworth.

“Those opposed to the plans huffed and puffed about how this issue would show how angry the community really was,” he said.

“What it did do, was help split the vote and the town now has two instead of three at the council table.

“They shot themselves in the foot.”