DENNIS Bater says being elected as mayor of Hatherleigh for a third term is a vote of confidence from his fellow councillors.
In total, the town and borough councillor, who works as a postman and also runs a fish and chip shop, has clocked up six years service as mayor after holding the title in the past.
The new deputy mayor, who takes over from Patricia Vick, is Debbie Lang.
Mr Bater said it had been a tough year with Hatherleigh being in the centre of the foot and mouth crisis but people of the town were very resilient.
'Things are certainly getting back to near normal and we hope in the next two years we will see this community move forward with help from the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative,' he said.
Money from the initiative which includes up to £1 million from the Government for projects in and around Hatherleigh will be used to regenerate the town.