Mr Branigan placed in the top seven of the past two elections, but missed out when preferences were calculated.
As it turned out, it was one of the former Benalla teacher’s old students stepping down that led to his election.
Nathan Tolliday resigned his position on council recently, which is when a countback was required to fill his spot.
Mr Branigan said friends had told him there was a chance something could happen that could lead to him getting on to council, but he felt it was too much of a long-shot to actually happen.
But on Thursday, December 4, VEC election manager Anju Mehta confirmed that it had.
“It was quite exciting to get the call,” Mr Branigan said.
“The old cliché is that it’s very humbling, and a bit daunting. I thought, what have I got myself in to?
“But I'm really looking forward to the next three years working with my fellow councillors.”
Mr Branigan said he had already met with Benalla Rural City Council chief executive Peter Keane, who furnished him with a big pile of documents he needed to read through.
“Then I’m actually inducted at the last council meeting for the year on December 17,” Mr Branigan said.
He said he had some areas he would like to address during his time on council.
“I want to look at attracting businesses to the shopping area and what to do with the Dunlop (Benalla P-12 Barkly St) campus,” he said.
“We've got a farm at Swanpool and one of the things that I'm really concerned about is blackberries.
“Particularly ensuring that council reserves where there are blackberries are sprayed.
“And the BIRC (Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre). It was back in 2022 we were promised $15 million from the (Victorian) government.
“Personally, I can’t see it being built down at Churchill Reserve, I’d like to see it at the Friendies (oval).
“But I guess I have a conflict of interest with my involvement in the tennis club and All-Blacks.
“I just want to see it built, as it would provide a lot of employment and be an economic boost.”
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