By Mitchell Clarke
Cardinia Shire’s first mayor and deputy mayor of the 2020-24 term is set to be officially voted in on Monday 23 November.
The first council meeting of the term, which will be livestreamed to the public, will elect a mayor and deputy mayor.
It’ll be the first time that councillors vote both a mayor and deputy mayor in. In previous years, the outgoing mayor was immediately elected to the position of deputy.
But at the end of the 2016-20 term, the former council voted in support of a deputy mayor election.
Re-elected councillor Graeme Moore was the only member to vote against the proposal, citing it wasn’t good for democracy.
“It does have its points and I’m not dead against it, but my view is that the existing mayor should become deputy,” he said.
Councillor Moore argued the original mayor would have a good understanding of the happenings of council and would be the most suited to step-in if needed.
He said Monday’s deputy mayor election should be “interesting”.
“Say the deputy mayor was elected on Monday night, and it’s one of the new councillors, it could become very complicated, especially if they need to step in for the mayor with no experience at all,” he explained.
The former mayor said he also believed that outgoing mayors shouldn’t be able to recontest for a second year at the helm.
“We have four year terms and nine councillors – I think it’s a bit arrogant for a mayor to run two years in a row,” he said.
“We have four years in a term and there’s nine councillors. I think there should be a chance for everyone.
“The mayoral role turns good councillors into great councillors. It shows them leadership and gives them experience.”
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[STAR POLL] – Who should be the next Mayor of the Cardinia Shire?
