Sandra Hazelhurst Photo: Hastings District Council
Acting mayor of Hastings Sandra Hazelhurst is well ahead in the by-election for the district mayoralty.
Preliminary results give her 9913 votes - double the number of the runner up Bayden Barber, 5101.
Acting deputy mayor, the TV3 cameraman Simon Nixon, came third.
The by-election was triggered by the election to parliament of previous mayor Lawrence Yule.
The Hastings Havelock ward position was won by Wendy Schollum.
Final voting figures will be released on Monday.