Mr Toole served on Evans Shire Council from 1995 to 2004 and, post-amalgamation, Bathurst Regional Council from 2005 to 2012, including as mayor from 2007 to 2011.

READ ALSO: Bathurst MP Paul Toole named 19th deputy premier of NSW

Bathurst mayor Ian North, who served as deputy mayor under Mr Toole throughout his tenure, said the Deputy Premier has dedicated half of his life towards his local community.

"I'm honestly proud of Paul, and I know his parents would especially be proud," Cr North said.

"He's been a tremendous ear to the people of Bathurst for 26 years, and I know he'll fight hard for regional NSW moving forward- he's the right man for the job."

The 2008 Bathurst local government election saw Mr Toole's Group C ticket receive 52.6 per cent of the vote, which saw sitting councillors Monica Morse and Warren Aubin, as well as former mayor Greg Westman, elected to council for the first time.

READ ALSO: New Nationals leader Paul Toole is a third generation politician

Cr Morse, who is currently deputy mayor, said she's incredibly proud of her former colleague's ascension to deputy premier.

"He's an astute people person who is very good at leading," Cr Morse said.

"As mayor, he mentored us, told us how to behave and worked hard to get council to work together collaboratively as a team."

"I still say to people now how lucky I was to serve on council with Paul as mayor, he set an exemplary example for councillors who were new to the job."

Councillor Bobby Bourke, who was one of the inaugural Bathurst Regional councillors in 2005 alongside both Mr Toole and Cr North, called the Deputy Premier "one of the best, most honest politicians I've ever worked with."

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"I've known Paul for 20-odd years: he's a straight-forward, local bloke, and I don't think there's anyone better equipped right now to take on the second-highest ministerial position in the state," Cr Bourke said.

"There will always be times where people won't fully agree with his stance on certain policy decisions, and sometimes I myself don't completely agree, but Paul has always been personable and easy to work with; he's been a mentor to me despite the fact he's younger."

Mr Toole was sworn in as deputy premier on Wednesday after defeating Oxley MP Melinda Pavey 15 votes to three in a NSW Nationals party room ballot.

He is the 19^th deputy premier of NSW, and the first in nearly 90 years of the position's existence to hail from and represent Bathurst.

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