The North-East has spoken decisively in favour of Mr Howard, who took in a full 42.71 percentage points more than the runner-up, Wendy McLennan.

He said he is feeling relieved and pleased, and that the community had delivered a clear mandate for council to continue in the direction that it’s taken. 

“It’s a considerable margin and it’s very satisfying that the community appreciates what we've achieved over the past four years and we’ll continue along the path that we’ve taken, and hopefully we can continue to deliver in the next four years,” he said.

However, with rival Wendy McLennan a likely bet for a spot on council, and mayoral candidate Edwina Powell a real possibility for councillor, he is not looking at the incoming council as a clean slate. 

“I think it’s difficult for people to carry on like they have in the lead-up to this election on social media and come to the table and be happy families,” he said. 

“I have never seen an election where candidates like Wendy and Edwina have deliberately gone out and targeted other candidates. 

“Normally candidates put themselves out there with what they’d like to achieve, what they've done in the past and what they stand for, but in this election it was very adversarial.”

Dorset Council has taken a number of unorthodox moves under Mr Howard’s leadership, including investing its own money to secure the $60 million Scottsdale Irrigation Scheme, and stepping in to purchase the Aminya Nursing Home and finding a new operator for it after it looked set to close.

After trimming down the council bureaucracy and some smart financial moves, Mr Howard and his team have also managed to up council’s capital expenditure budget to $14 million - a huge number for a council of 5375 enrolled electors. It seems that residents approve of these decisions, giving Mr Howard the nod for another run.

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Live coverage from the local government election 2018

Deputy mayor is Dale Jessup, with 47.93 per cent of the vote and no close competitors.

Mr Jessup is a Scottsdale businessman and incumbent councillor, and is the man behind Branxholm Sawmill, Ling Siding Timber Treatment Plant, and Dorset Renewable Industries.

His priorities for the next four years are to upgrade the Sideling to allow it to be used as a B-Double truck access route, the completion of the Derby mountain biking trails, and the completion of both the cycle rail trail and heritage rail projects in a compromise solution supported by the state government.

Mr Jessup and Mr Howard have worked well together on council, and are likely to form a team over the coming cycle.

Heritage rail advocate Wendy Mclennan has missed out on mayor of Dorset Council, but she’s feeling optimistic about her new role as a councillor. Only 20 per cent of votes have been counted for councillor positions, but with 12.31 per cent, Ms McLennan seems like a safe bet.

“I’m really happy about that,” she said. “We need to have some fresh blood in there.

“I just think we live in a great environment and a great area, and it will be good to be a part of the decision-making process, and we need to do it properly.”

Ms McLennan said she will try to work well with Mr Howard and the rest of council.

“We’ll have to won’t we,” she said. “You have to put things behind you.”

“I did get the sense during the election that the community wanted a new direction in the municipality, and I hope they do take heed of the fact that it seems like everyone wants to be involved.

“I still say it and I still believe it, we should have the community involved a lot more in decision-making.”