A Nimmitabel man who has sought election at both state and federal levels has been successful in gaining a seat on the Snowy Monaro Regional Council.
In doing so, Andrew Thaler will join a council that will also include a former mayor who once banned him from chambers for "abusive behaviour".
The Nimmitabel business owner rejected those claims and they were also called into question by several sitting councillors at the time.
The then-mayor who issued the ban was John Rooney - who was also elected this week alongside Mr Thaler.
Mr Thaler has also previously run as an independent for state and federal politics on numerous occasions, although this was his first win.
His election to council came during the 56th count at this week's distribution of preferences.
Both Mr Thaler and Mr Rooney were elected at that late stage of the count despite not having reached the quota, as were Nick Elliott and Narelle Davis, because all other candidates had been excluded and ballots exhausted by that stage.
Seven sitting councillors were returned following the September 14 election, including the previous mayor Christopher Hanna and deputy mayor Tanya Higgins.
Sixty candidates stood for election in the Snowy Monaro Region.
That included seven independent group tickets, a Labor group, and 12 ungrouped candidates.
Following the distribution of preferences, the following candidates were elected to the 11 seats available:
Luke Williamson, Christopher Hanna, Tanya Higgins (Labor), Reuben Rose, Bob Stewart, Tricia Hopkins, Lynda Summers (Labor), Andrew Thaler, John Rooney, Nick Elliott and Narelle Davis.
Luke Williamson Chris Hanna, Tanya Higgins, Reuben Rose and Bob Stewart were all elected on the first count.
It took 56 counts after candidate exclusions and preference distribution to reach the final 11 names.
Along with Crs Hanna and Higgins, the re-elected councillors were Crs Williamson, Hopkins, Summers, Stewart and Davis.
Incumbent councillors who missed out on re-election included Karlee Johnson (excluded at count 47), Peter Beer (count 52) and Craig Mitchell (count 55).
The margin between the last elected candidate John Rooney and the last un-elected/excluded candidate, another former councillor Lynley Miners, was 13 votes.
As well as Mr Thaler, new to Snowy Monaro Council will be Reuben Rose, an emeritus professor and former dean of the faculty of veterinary science at the University of Sydney.
His website bio states he has "first-hand experience of making a bureaucracy more accountable and effective".
"There are many things wrong with the current council," the Snowy On Track site stated.
"Our group believes the heart of the problem is the need for better governance ... councillors need to clearly set the priority areas and then have the staff deliver on these. This seems not to be happening.
"New councillors must bring fresh eyes and a forensic approach to the Snowy Monaro Regional Council."
The final new face for council will be Nick Elliott, who ran as the number two candidate on former Bombala mayor and long-time councillor Bob Stewart's group ticket.
Councillors will be sworn in and the new mayor and deputy mayor elected at the next council meeting, scheduled for 1pm on October 10, at Cooma Council Chambers.
