The National Party has selected its Bay of Plenty candidate for this year's general election in a two-horse race decided last night.

Former Fonterra executive Todd Muller was chosen ahead of current Tauranga City Councillor Steve Morris to replace long-serving outgoing MP Tony Ryall in the Bay's National seat.

Todd Muller will be National Party's candidate for the Bay of Plenty electorate in this September's general election.

Todd's success was announced following a vote by 101 delegates at last night's third selection meeting at Club Mount Maunganui. The candidates had to make a ten minute speech and answer written questions before delegates, family and friends.

Branch chairman Mark Bayly is unsure what the final tally was, and could not say if it was a tight decider.

'I have no idea what the vote counts actually were. I'm not privy to that,” says Mark.

'The scrutineers and counters had to sign confidentiality agreements. I'd be very surprised if anyone says what the numbers where or how close it is.

'I would have expected it to be quite close, but I don't know if that was the case or not.”

As one of the 101 voting delegates, Mark had to remain in the hall with Tony Ryall and Rotorua MP Todd McClay for the half hour while the votes were being counted.

It's the Bay of Plenty branch's first candidate selection for 19 years and Mark's first as branch chairman.

Speaking with SunLive today, Todd says he is thrilled to get the support of the 101 delegates he has spent time with during the race.

'It's nice to get their support and trust, I am just delighted and honoured.”

'Being a local boy I felt very connected with this region, and the people and the National Party of this region, but I still felt it would be a tough contest and I knew I had to put out my perspectives and experience, and how I would be a good stand for the National Party.”

Todd's pledging to run a strong campaign to ensure the re-election of a John Key National-led Government on 20 September.

He believes furthering job opportunities in the region and fostering the economy to invest in public services to get better outcomes in areas of health, law and order and education, will be key areas in the upcoming election.

'I'll be taking nothing for granted this election,” says Todd.

'I'm very conscious of the part agri-business plays in the region, and a big supporter of those sectors, and the investment the Government has made in the region to support our infrastructure to make our products more efficiently be able to be taken to our port.”

'The Bay of Plenty is where I grew up, and have lived and worked much of my adult life. It's a great place to live with many opportunities ahead if we stick to path we're on under this Government.”

Todd was born in Te Aroha and raised in Te Puna. He attended Tauranga Boys' College before earning a Masters from Waikato University.

His recent career experience includes roles as a general manager for Zespri and CEO at Apata Coolstores, and most recently as Group Director Cooperative Affairs for Fonterra.

He is a Waikato University Councillor, and sits on the boards of Plant and Food Research and the Sustainable Business Council.

'I first thought of being an MP when I was 10-years-old. It's certainly been something in my plan, and a dream of mine for a long time.”

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges is excited about his new running mate for the September election.

'Todd is great, I know he is really looking forward to getting stuck in and getting around the Western Bay. I think he will be a great candidate and MP with me representing this area.”

Simon has had a lot to do with Todd both prior to being in Parliament and in the National Party where he says Todd has been a very active member.

He believes Todd's experience in the primary industries, particularly agriculture and horticulture, will serve him well in the region based around those economies.

'He brings a very significant skill-set in the primary industries.

'He's a very thoughtful and considered person, with very strong senior management experience."

When it comes to comparing with Tony Ryall, Simon says despite 'being taller and wearing less loud ties”, Todd has big shoes to fill.

'No one can ever replace Tony and the remarkable contribution he has made for a very long time, but I'm sure Todd will step up to the plate.”

And Todd says that is exactly what he is ready to do.

'He's [Tony] an extraordinary benchmark and in my view a local MP who is extremely hard-working, very high integrity and has contributed at a high level locally, and in the National Party in Wellington.”

Todd currently lives in Auckland with his wife Michelle and three children, Aimee, 9, Bradley, 8, and Amelia, 6.

He will be returning to live in Tauranga to campaign full-time for what is touted as a safe National seat, given the current Health Minister's 18,000 majority in the last election.

'I'm looking forward to spending the next 100 days connecting with the electorate, it's a place I call home, and it's been a major part of my family's life.”