Doug Rawson will serve the next four years in Penetanguishne's top position.
Rawson defeated Jill St. Amant by a vote of 1,808 to 1,114 to become the town's mayor.
Rawson, 46, earlier told MidlandToday he wants to help Penetang "grow, flourish, be the best it can be."
'I am a believer that failing to plan is planning to fail," he said. "We need to ensure our infrastructure supports growth and that services are ready for this growth."
Runner-up St.Amant was a Penetanguishene councillor.
In one of the evening's closest races, Dan La Rose claimed the deputy mayor's chair over Brian Cummings by a vote of 1,443 to 1,359.
"Obviously, I'm ecstatic, I feel great," La Rose told MidlandToday shortly after being declared the winner.
First elected as a councillor in 1994, La Rose said people seemed to be more engaged than during some of his past campaigns with the town dock plan and superjail policing costs topping resident concerns.
La Rose said he's looking forward to being part of Simcoe County Council along with meeting some of the town's newly elected councillors.
"I remember being the new guy," La Rose said, adding he will also miss council colleagues who failed to win re-election.
Also elected to fill one of the five vacant councillor positions was outgoing mayor Doug Leroux, who received the most votes with 1,670. Also elected are Bonita Desroches with 1,362 votes, Suzanne Marchand 1,384 votes, George Vadeboncoeur 1,306 and Bill Waters 1,269.
Long-term councillors Debbie Levy and Michel Mayotte finished with 1,229 and 1,268 votes, respectively.
