The figures saw Mr Harmon re-elected on Saturday and Di Baker cross the line the following day with 1231 votes, or 12.95 per cent. Both said they felt humbled and pleased the community had put their faith in their previous hard work for concil, and both were critical of the behavour of some of the other candidates.

Di Baker said she loved talking to people at the polls, telling them of her achievements and asking what she could do to help to make the community a better place.

“So I liked the pre-poll, I really enjoy it,” she said.

“I found there was a lot of misinformation going around, but I deliberately tried to seperate myself from that because I prefer to run a positive campaign than a negative one.”

“Everyone is entitled to express their opinion, that’s our democratic system works, however, when facts are facts, opinions are one thing, but facts are another.”

Mal Peters led a Concerned Inverell Ratepayers Association group on the ticket and said it had been a very solid campaign.

“I think what has been reflected is that democracy is alive and well in Inverell,” he said.

“What has happened in the past is that elections have come and gone and not many people are interested. I think this time there was a very high level of interest generated and I think that all goes well for democracy for people to be actively involved.”

Mr Harmon said some of the candidates had run a very ‘anti-mayor’ campaign.

“I think the community have given a mandate that they are happy with the current performance of the council and the future direction that the council has said it is going,” he said.

“Looking back at the campaign led against the current council, and particularly against myself, it was a very negative campaign, and the community said ‘We don’t want to be part of that’.”