Sally Yalden has been elected as Hampshire County Council's representative for Baddesley, holding the division for the Liberal Democrats in last Friday's poll, held on Friday, May 8.
Cllr Yalden topped the ballot with 3,127 votes, ahead of Reform UK's Peter Lazic on 1,354 and Local Conservatives candidate Nigel Graham Nicholson on 1,257.
Labour's Sarah Fearn received 171 votes and the Green Party's Mike Munro polled 485, with turnout in the division recorded at 48.9 per cent.
The result means the Liberal Democrats have held the Baddesley division.
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Speaking after the declaration on Friday, May 8, Cllr Yalden said: "I was absolutely delighted to be elected – it still hasn't quite sunk in yet!
"While I felt I had put in the hard work spending countless hours on the doorstep, speaking to hundreds of residents and covering miles delivering leaflets, no win is ever down to one person.
"It reflects the efforts of a fantastic team of volunteers and the support of so many people locally.
"Thanks again to those amazing people who helped."
She said the condition of local roads, and potholes in particular, was the issue most frequently raised with her during the campaign.
"The issue I heard about more than anything else on the doorstep was the state of our roads, particularly potholes," she said.
"It's clear to residents that years of underinvestment and neglect have really taken their toll.
"A family member is a civil engineer specialising in highways engineering and there's real frustration at how the situation has been allowed to deteriorate and get this bad."
Cllr Yalden, who first became a councillor in 2019, said her motivation remained rooted in serving local people and tackling problems on their behalf.
"I care deeply about our communities.
"I enjoy helping people and solving problems, and being in local government is a good way to get things done," she said.
Her election comes as Hampshire County Council moves into a new era, with the authority now under no overall control after nearly 30 years of Conservative administration.
"Much will depend on how the new administration is formed," she added.
"But what I can say with certainty is that I will work incredibly hard to represent residents and make sure their voices are heard loud and clear."
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