Cr Downie secured 62.21 per cent of the vote with 3591 first preference votes against competitor Dick Adams with 37.79 per cent and 2181 first preferences.

Cr Downie last night said he was "overwhelmed" by the support he received.

"It's very humbling . . . I'm still coming to terms with the result," Cr Downie said.

"I've never been after the position of mayor and the circumstances prevailed where people wanted a change, I had been approached from people all over the municipality to stand and that's what I did."

He said the new council would be a mixed bag of experience for 2014-18.

"For the council to attract two long-serving politicians like Dick Adams and Michael Polley, I think the Northern Midlands area can only benefit," Cr Downie said.

"I think we're very fortunate with the number of councillors who will be returned . . . and also new councillor Lisa Gordon looks like she'll get in.

"I think Northern Midlands people should be very happy, they'll be very well served by those elected."