RE-ELECTED Tweed Mayor Barry Longland says his third term at the helm of the council will provide a sense of stability for the shire.

Cr Longland's only challenger during the annual mayoral vote on Thursday evening was Warren Polglase, who lost four votes to three.

Cr Polglase, who previously served five terms as mayor, attracted votes from councillors Phil Youngblutt, Carolyn Byrne and himself - a re-run of the 2012 mayoralty vote results.

"I think it represents some stability for the shire," Cr Longland told the Daily News.

"The last council had four mayors in four years and I don't believe that represents stability for the community."

That issue went on far too long and I think that people need to understand that getting on the back of a truck and attacking councillors is not a constructive way to demonstrate any kind of stability in the community.

Speaking after the vote, Cr Longland appeared to be still smarting over the campaign against the most controversial move in his previous term - spearheading the sacking of former general manager David Keenan.

"That issue went on far too long and I think that people need to understand that getting on the back of a truck and attacking councillors is not a constructive way to demonstrate any kind of stability in the community," he said.

While the council is still attempting to recruit a new GM, Cr Longland said the episode was behind them.

"And I do hope it's behind those people involved in that movement," he said.

Cr Longland said the council was in the middle of drafting its economic development strategy, expected to go on display next month, and was also involved in important reforms to the state planning laws and a review of the Local Government Act, which he and Deputy Mayor Michael Armstrong had spent a lot of time on.

"These reforms still have a long way to run and I'm very privileged to be still in the mayor's office to see this through," he said.

Tweed Shire has declared itself CSG-free, but Cr Longland said he was concerned about reports of political support for CSG gathering pace.

"It's alarming when you do read and hear about the State Government and the new Federal Government back-pedalling on CSG, so we need to be vigilant about that," he said.

This is Cr Longland's second successive term as mayor of the current council.

He also served in the position for the previous council from September 2011 to September 2012, making this his third term in the top job.

Cr Armstrong has also been returned as deputy, his only challenger, Phil Youngblutt, losing 4-3.

Lindy Smith, a regular in the council's public gallery and a former Tweed council candidate, said Cr Long- land's return was a good result and agreed it would offer the council stability.

Ms Smith said the Mayor had shown integrity in his response to the outcry over the GM sacking.

"There was just so much false information," Ms Smith said.