The mayor, Councillor Bob Hooper, was easily returned to the new Oberon Council.

He will be joined and is joined by five other serving councillors, Don Fitzpatrick, Zsuzsanna Handels-mann, John McMahon, Clive McCarthy and Keith Sullivan.

The line-up includes three new councillors: Neil Francis, Ian Doney and Bob O’Bernier, who has been an Oberon councillor in past years and received the second highest number of votes behind the mayor.

Cr O’Bernier, who was a councillor for more than eight years until 2005, said he needed to get out of council for a time to get a new perspective.

He said he left his decision to run again until the last minute and that he appreciates the support of the Oberon voters.

“It’s great that people have respect for you and believe you’ll do the right thing,’ he said.

Cr O’Bernier said although he appreciates the congratulations he has received, he believes the praise should be given when deserved.

“I think congratulations should be saved until you achieve something, not just because you got in,” he said.

Cr O’Bernier said that he would approach council with an open mind.

He said he would listen to what others have to say and work to ensure that that council operates as a team. He would aim to be direct and realistic.

“If I don’t believe it, I’ll say so,” he said. “If I say I’ll do it, I will.

On Wednesday night, a meeting with the new council will be held to elect the mayor, to nominate councillors for committees and to arrange council meeting times.

The Oberon Review will report on the outcome of this meeting next week.