First item of business for new Western Bay Mayor Ross Paterson is choosing a deputy mayor, whom he will announce on Monday, March 16.

He's promising a 'steady as she goes” approach on the council decisions side of things, but there may be some changes round the council table.
Ross's choice of deputy could bring about changes in the chairmanships of the various council committees.
'This week I'll be talking with the councillors about what I want to do with this council as new mayor and the way I want to do it.”
As far as governance is concerned, Ross says he will continue the style he adopted since having to stepping up to the mayoralty following the death of popular Western Bay Mayor Graeme Weld last November.
An election was required by law because the next local body elections are more than 12 months away.
The election was contested between Ross and Policy Committee chairman Cr Norm Bruning.
'Ross now has a mandate,” says Norm.
Ross says he has a tight and supportive council. He attended Norm's father's funeral recently as council representative, and eight out of ten councillors were at his house on the Saturday night of the by-election.
'The other two would have been there, but had other commitments. I have a very united council with me at the moment.”
He says the concern the council faces now is judging the balance between council income through the rate take, and the amount of work the council creates in the rural districts in the present economic climate.
Ross was voted in with 7721 votes compared to 3206 votes for Norm Bruning.
'It was an incredible result,” says Ross. 'It was a stronger mandate for me than what I ever envisaged.
'The electorate has given me 70 per cent of the vote, that's an incredible figure.”
The by-election turnout was 35 per cent, compared with 37 per cent for the last general election.
'So I consider that people in the district actually did get involved, attended meetings, educated themselves and made a decision. I thank the district for that.
'I would like to thank all those people who supported Robyn (Ross' wife) and myself and who have given me such a strong mandate to lead this council through the next 18 months to the general election. My phone is still available to all, just like it was before the election.”