One new and one former councillor will join Wangaratta Council over the next four years, while former mayor Ken Clarke has lost his seat after not winning enough votes.
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Mayor Dean Rees was the only councillor with enough votes to be elected in the city ward on first preferences - his 3574 votes, 34.90 per cent of the total, were well above the quota of 2049.
After the other preferences were counted, Jack Herry, Dave Fuller and Ashlee Fitzpatrick were also elected.
Former councillor Julian Fidge had placed third in first preference votes with 1049, behind Cr Rees and Mr Herry with 1510, but was overtaken after the preference count and missed a place on the council.
Cr Rees was not in Wangaratta for the announcement on Thursday, but told The Border Mail that although he was pleased with his result, he was disappointed for Mr Clarke.
Harry Bussell won re-election in the South Ward, former mayor and administrator Irene Grant was back in the North Ward after Mark Currie did not seek re-election, and Harvey Benton was elected unopposed in the North Ward.
As the only first-time councillor elected, Mr Herry said he was looking forward to working with his new colleagues on making sure the community's voice was heard, that there is a focus on sustainability - such as during the development of future housing estates - and a smart recovery from the pandemic.
He said he did not see himself as Mr Clarke's replacement, and although that experience would be missed, "I will endeavour to bring what I can to the table".
Mr Herry ran a prominent campaign with signs on public roads, a busy social media presence and volunteers helping out, plus credited his wife with help on the photography and graphic design.
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Ms Grant said she was happy to be back, and thought the council had done very well since she finished as an administrator four years ago, working as a team and looking strategically to the future.
She has most recently served as chair of the Ovens Murray Regional Partnership, which is a group established by the Victorian government, and said partnerships between state and local government was important.
"Wangaratta is very much a hub and I think we need to work to our strengths," she said.
Ms Grant's election meant Wangaratta's number of female councillors has increased from one to two.
"I think it's great. I was definitely promoting gender equality on council and really wanted to have another female," Cr Fitzpatrick said.
"I'm absolutely rapt and I think the diversity and age difference is just fantastic because you get a bigger demographic."
Cr Fitzpatrick said it was important for the next generation to see young people can be elected if they put their hands up.
Cr Bussell also had tough competition in the South Ward, finishing with 55.89 per cent of the vote after the preference distribution to Suz Christison's 44.11 per cent.
He thanked her for the call to congratulate him when they found out the results on Wednesday evening.
"There's certainly a lot of work to do in the next four years to support the rural communities, particularly to get business back together and tourists back to the King Valley and Ovens Valley," he said.
Cr Benton said agriculture was "an essential industry" in Wangaratta so "infrastructure has got to come up to standard".
"The state government is going to have to be tapped on the shoulder and it's going to be a struggle," he said.
"They're not a sexy thing, roads, but everyone uses them and they're essential to get your business going."
He was concerned that COVID-19 would be the reason why councils may not be granted money, but said the city had projects that are shovel ready.
Cr Fuller said it was "pleasure and an honour to be re-elected" and had environmental priorities he wanted to get to during his second term.
The councillors-elect will be sworn in and select a mayor at the next Wangaratta Council meeting on November 24.