New Mayor elected: all female team at the top

Cr Clare Le Serve has been elected Mayor, in a surprise result.

Cr Le Serve won the vote 5-4, casting her own vote and supported by Crs Laing, Ellis, Whelan and Rooks.

In a separate vote, Cr Halstead was again elected as Deputy Mayor, in another 5-4 vote, supported by Crs Bauer, Larke, Ellis and Tessari.

Prior to the meeting, Cr Rochelle Halstead was the only councillor who confirmed their intention to run for the top job. Cr Halstead said she was disappointed in the result and "wished politics had not played such a big role" in the decision.

Previously Cr Halstead believed she had secured enough support to win the Mayoral vote. However as Cr Bauer observed, "it's amazing how the sands shift and nothing is certain until the hands are in the air".

He encouraged Cr Halstead not to lose heart and to run for the top position in the future.

Cr Le Serve was recently recognised for 10 years of service as a councillor and has already flagged she does not intend to run again in the next local government election (2024).