He's kept the top seat warm in Inverell since 2012, and with his popular re-election by fellow councillors, Paul Harmon is now set to ring in a decade as Inverell's mayor.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And while nabbing just about 25 per cent of Inverell Shire's entire first preference vote, he comes into this next term secure in his knowledge that the majority of Inverell - both residents and councillors - back him all the way.
"It's great to be reelected mayor of Inverell Shire, especially just so I can continue on with the good work that has been set up from previous councils," he told the Times.
READ ALSO
His deputy for the previous nine years, Anthony Michael, did not run for council again, however finished his term with council on a dramatic note - calling for the mayor to step down if he wouldn't get vaccinated.
While prefacing his comment by saying he'd been a "strong supporter of the mayor in his role as the mayor", the then councillor went on to express his "disappointment" in Cr Harmon's unvaccinated status.
Now a new era has dawned, with councillor Kate Dight elected as Cr Harmon's new deputy, and he's looking forward to working with her "fresh ideas, and fresh enthusiasm and vigour".
I polled just under 25 per cent of first primary vote - which is a fantastic result - and that shows the community are happy with the work I'm doing and the role I've played in shaping Inverell for the last few years.
- Paul Harmon
"I polled just under 25 per cent of first primary vote - which is a fantastic result - and that shows the community are happy with the work I'm doing and the role I've played in shaping Inverell for the last few years," he said.
"The confidence that my fellow councillors had in me to actually reinstate me into the mayors role is another vote of confidence that they believe I'm capable of doing the job of mayor of Inverell Shire."
"It's a bit of a change at the top here, and oftentimes when you get that change you get some fresh ideas, and some fresh enthusiasm and vigour - so I look forward to working with Kate and likewise with our new - and returning - councilors."
And as for projects, he said the two biggest ones are already underway - the new roundabout on the Gwydir Highway and Chester Street as well as the new aquatic centre rebuild.
After lobbying hard, he was excited to see the start of works on Moore Street near the hospital entrance begin in February.
"We lobbied and lobbied for a long time to NSW Health to say they needed to upgrade that intersection because we felt it wasn't safe. They ignored those requests for some time, then we spoke with Adam Marshall to help us secure that funding, so negotiations with NSW Health then continued and we secured funding."
While the Shire is still "playing catch up" on a lot of road works projects because of all the wet weather, with flooding in northern part of the Shire and especially around Ashford, he said "our works crew are really busy".
"They are all high on my priority list to make sure those projects are all done and dusted and of course there is all the other minor ones and anything else that crops up in-between times."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark inverelltimes.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @inverelltimes
- Follow us on Instagram @inverelltimes
- Follow us on Google News