Bruce MacKenzie is the first popularly elected mayor of Port Stephens.
After preferences were distributed, Mr MacKenzie beat Geoff Dingle by 884 votes.
Preferences from third-placed candidate Sally Dover flowed mainly to Mr MacKenzie who only had a lead of 606 before preferential counting started.
The result will formally declared 9am on Friday.
Final Count
MACKENZIE 16 196
GEOFF DINGLE 15 312
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congratulations bruce now straighten all off the staff stop them from being dictators and to serve the people as they are public servants paid by the rate payers. an old mate.
Yes and speak to Jeff McCloy Mayor of Newcastle to fix the dictator staff at Newcastle Coucil as well
we should not have mayors that stand to profit from council decisions.poor choice,Port Stephens.