CENTRAL ward councillor Nicola Sumner described the election period as a ‘fight for the borough’ and admits the close call was different to 2021 when she was elected on a coin toss.

Coun Sumner was re-elected alongside fellow Labour members Martin O’Donoghue and Janine Moyes.

Central ward was one of only two that elected three Labour councillors.

She admits the campaign trail has been gruelling and, after winning in the Rockingham ward via a coin toss in 2021, she reckons she might be the ‘luckiest’ councillor in the town.

She told the Chronicle: “This election was different to when I won my seat on the toss of a coin.

“That was in response to a specific ward issue and after three recounts, my adrenaline was going.

“This election from the start, felt like a fight for the borough - for my town.

“We knew we were up against it and we have all carried that pressure over the last year.

“At the count on Friday, some candidates stood through ten hours of counting to know their result.

“I would say it was gruelling for everyone involved.

“With the differential votes, we didn’t know the result in Central ward until they were actually read out but my head was spinning.

“It was only when they named who had won that I knew for sure.

“It became emotional when I heard Janine and Martin’s name too, because we are such a close ward team.

“On Friday a lot of very dear friends and colleagues lost their seats on the council, including my uncle Mick Stowe.

“I am going to miss them all on a personal level at the town hall, but I am also going to miss their combined knowledge and experience.

“It’s a sad time for me but I am one of the lucky ones.

“Some might say with my political history, the luckiest.”