At 2002 referendum the electorate voted 8,973 in favour (with 7,350 against, 21% turnout) of a change to a system of directly elected mayor with executive powers (instead of a leader) and a managing director (instead of a CEO).

[6] Rickersey then mounted a high-profile campaign entitled Independent Mayor4Mansfield, revealing his nominee Tony Egginton's identity following initial confidentiality during the referendum stages.

[13] Rickersey continued as a ward councillor, later masterminding Egginton's 2007 re-election success when beating Labour's Alan Meale, who was also the town's sitting MP.

In a 2012 BBC Radio Nottingham interview with presenter John Holmes, Egginton stated he was employed at the old Mansfield Borough Council during the building of the Four Seasons shopping centre (land clearance started circa 1973).

Sainsbury's stock lines included newspapers and magazines, and Egginton News closed, transferring some staff to Jacksons and the delivery service account to another newsagency over a mile away.

When speaking to a reporter from the Mansfield local newspaper later during November 2013 regarding redeveloping the old bus station site, Egginton stated:[28][29]I'm fairly confident it will happen – it's one of my legacy aims.

When I retire in 18 months' time, I would like to think the issue is resolved and plans are in place.On the morning of Monday 2 December 2013, local radio station Mansfield 103.2 on their regular hourly news bulletins again carried (different) sound-bites from Egginton, reaffirming his intention to retire in 2015, and adding that even though no candidates had been considered to stand for his Independent Forum party, individuals were coming forward and he expected to play a part in the future selection process.

Throughout the morning of Saturday 4 January 2014, local radio news bulletins again carried regular sound-bites relating to the mayor's last full year in office.

Egginton confirmed his priorities were to facilitate the sale of the Four Seasons shopping centre[30] and address the ailing market place retail area, adding that his message for 2014 was to achieve "collaborative working" from all involved.