Labor's Leah Anderson has declared victory in the race to be Port Stephens' next mayor.
Ms Anderson, who was first elected to the council in December 2021, becomes the shire's first female and full-time mayor.
"I am humbled by the support I have received from the people of Port Stephens," she said.
"I have spent the past three years working hard to pull council out of a very poor financial situation, deliver record funding for our local roads, locked in plans for more houses, build better relationships with our community, improve transparency, increase services, and to make sure people know that they can trust me to listen to them, care about their issues, and to deliver for them.
"These priorities have now been endorsed by the community and will be the Council's focus going forward."
As a full-time mayor, Ms Anderson, who takes over the role from Ryan Palmer, said she would have time to commit to attending more events, community meetings, inspections of council works and meetings with locals.
"The people of Port Stephens want leaders who respect them and who will look out for their interests. Our State MP Kate Washington and Federal MP Meryl Swanson maintain the support of our community for this very reason. I thank Kate and Meryl for their support, and for their leadership over many years in our community," she said.
"I am hopeful that with the election now over, other candidates and interest groups will get behind the work of our newly elected council. As a community we need to work together to deliver for Port Stephens and I am excited to be leading this work as mayor.
Labor also looks set to have at least five councillors on Port Stephens council giving it a casting vote majority.
There is also a possibility that a second councillor could be elected from East ward.
Labor's position in East Ward continued to strengthen on Monday. It opened up the possibility of a sixth Labor councillor being elected.
Liberal candidate Nathan Errington appeared to have secured the ward's third seat on Monday.
"I'd like to congratulate Leah Anderson and also thank the voters of East Ward for electing me to the council, he said.
"I'm looking forward to delivering for East Ward and holding Labor to account."
West Ward councillor Giacomo Arnott said he was humbled to be returned to the council.
"I'm feeling really pleased that people have seen the work that Leah Anderson, Jason Wells and myself have been doing for the past three years on council.
"They know they can trust us to deliver for Port Stephens and we are going to pay that trust off by delivering for them every day.
