The 23-year-old software business owner, who moved to Gore from Palmerston North about 18 months ago, inched ahead of six-term mayor Tracy Hicks with 2371 votes.
Mr Bell said he got the news at about 4pm yesterday after being left in limbo since the weekend when the race was deemed too close to call, leaving it down to the remaining 67 special votes.
"The mix of emotions has just increased, really," he said as he celebrated with family at his home in Gore last night.
"What an exciting race. I’m so glad I found out today and not Friday or the weekend because that would’ve been awful for both of us, really."
While Mr Hicks was popular, Mr Bell had known there was a good chance of him winning, despite his age. Once he began his campaign, he was able to earn support as someone who could deliver change, he said.
"People still concerned about my age will see me in office and see me actually doing the job.
"I’ve worked for councils so I understand standing orders and I understand how a council operates and I’ve been punching above my weight for a long time in terms of age."
Leading start-up communities and representing New Zealand on an international scale had given him "plenty of experience chairing meetings".
This was on top of his invention of a hospital wristband with GPS technology, giving a Ted Talk on social media and being named Wellingtonian of the Year youth category winner in 2016.
"I was a ski instructor in Canada for two years and did all sorts of things.
"I was a chef and travelled around Europe and was the manager of an ice cream store."
Upon returning to New Zealand he worked for Horizons Regional Council in Palmerston North before starting software business Random42, which was now taking "a major back seat".
"I got more clients in Gore than anywhere else so thought ‘it’s time to move to Gore’ and loved it ever since," Mr Bell said.
The stereotype that Gore was conservative no longer rang true, he said.
"We’ve just elected the country’s youngest mayor so I would have to think we’re quite the opposite and we’re about to change that stereotype and hopefully that’ll encourage more people to live here."
Growing the district was one of his key motivators to run for mayor, as was a lifelong interest in politics.
Mr Bell ran on the Team Hokonui ticket along with newly elected councillors Robert McKenzie and Joe Stringer. They campaigned on reprioritising the council’s spending and going "back to the basics".
Mr Bell was thankful for the support and advice he had received every Sunday from former Gore mayor Mary Ogg, who died two days before the election.
"I hope we made you proud, Mary. I know you will be looking down smiling."
Mr Hicks said he wished the incoming mayor all the very best for the future. He would seek advice before deciding whether to ask for a recount, he said.
