Liz McMillan was grinning from ear to ear as she settled into the Ashburton mayoral office.
Looking out the window of Te Whare Whakatere, Ashburton’s library and civic centre, across Baring Square and past the clock tower to the Southern Alps, she leaned back in her chair and said: “It's quite nice sitting in here”.
McMillan had backed herself for the top job, and the community has supported her too with an almost 4000-vote margin over her nearest rival.
The phone call from Ashburton chief executive Hamish Riach to say she was the mayor-elect came while she was blowing up inflatable Hammers.
She was at the Ashburton Showgrounds ahead of the Heartland Rugby Meads Cup semi-final between Mid Canterbury and Wairarapa Bush.
Her family were all on hand to get the news before kickoff, with McMillan celebrating two wins as Mid Canterbury held off Wairarapa Bush 21-19 to set up a rematch of last year's final against Thames Valley - this time in Ashburton.
Thoughts of a Meads Cup glory have been put aside as she settles into life as mayor.
On Monday, she had a handover from outgoing two-term mayor Neil Brown.
Sitting in the mayor’s office, she said: “This is the biggest thing I've done in my life”. But she's ready for the challenge.
She had nine years on the Methven Community Board and three terms on the council, the last two as deputy with Brown as her mentor.
When Brown announced he was standing down, she proclaimed her apprenticeship was over and she was ready to step up.
McMillan knows now she “has to walk the walk” and deliver.
She will have one-on-one sit-downs with the councillors and then address the early term admin - naming a deputy, who goes on committees, who sits where in the chamber, and meeting schedules.
McMillan, Ashburton's second female mayor, leads a council with a five-five gender split, five returning councillors and four newcomers for a good balance of experience and fresh thinking, she said.
“And I'm not the youngest on the council anymore.”
That title now belongs to Deb Gilkison at 37 years old, while Tony Todd is the oldest at 78.
Under Brown, the council was praised as operating as a team, without the political infighting some councils suffer from.
McMillan wants that to continue, but won’t simply follow her mentor's footsteps, bringing her own leadership style to the mayoralty.
“My biggest thing is being fair.
“Being voted onto council by your community is a big deal, so I’ll be making sure councillors feel included and get involved.”
There are no grand plans or promises other than to remain focused on delivering the core services and balancing rates affordability, she said.
“We need to be mindful of watching our rates, and we know the community is expecting us to keep them as low as we can, but also not compromising progress, so it’s a balance”
On the books is the Three Waters reform, “the second bridge is going to be huge, a new roading contract coming in, waste contract coming in”, which includes adding greenwaste bins.
“It’s big ticket stuff, so we are going to be busy,” McMillan said.
'Like I've been to my own funeral'
Jeff Ryan said he was “absolutely devastated” and didn’t see the result coming.
He received just 8.7% (908) of the mayoral votes, behind Russell Ellis with 18.9% (1971) and Rob Mackle with 15.5% (1605).
“I feel like I’ve been to my own funeral,” Ryan said. “I’m a bit humiliated by it to be honest. It’s not a good result.
Ryan declared his aspiring political career could be over.
“When I put in so much time and effort to not get those votes, it will be difficult for me to risk suffering the same thing again.
“I really thought I had found my destiny, a passion, and was going to fulfil that dream, and I’ve got nothing out of it.
“People have the right to vote how they want, and I hold no resentment. I wish those elected all the best.”
He had campaigned on big ideas, like a canal to Lake Hood, getting the district council into gravel extraction, and fast-tracking the EA Networks Centre stadium extension.
Runner-up Russell Ellis was disappointed to lose the mayoral race but is happy to be returning for a fourth term on the council after winning an Ashburton Ward seat.
“The public has spoken, and for me it’s still a big achievement to get back for a fourth term where I’ll get in behind and support Liz.”
One-term councillor Rob Mackle said the result was clear and he is looking ahead, with his time on the council over, for now.
Running for mayor was “all or nothing”.
“Now it’s nothing, so I’ll break free for a while and carry on with other things.”
He still hopes to attempt a return to the council “when the time is right”.
-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
