Newly elected Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Councillors will be sworn in at the first council meeting of the new term this Thursday, September 21 in Gundagai.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Also at the meeting, councillors will vote on a mayor and deputy mayor.
The successful candidate for the mayor’s position will remain in the role for two years.
At the same meeting councillors will also vote on whether or not to elect a deputy mayor and, if so, whether the term will be one or two years.
Already former Cootamundra Shire Council mayor and deputy mayor Doug Phillips has confirmed he will throw his hat in the ring for both positions.
Former Gundagai Shire Council mayor Abb McAlister was unable to confirm on Tuesday whether he will run for either position, still weighing up his options.
Immediate past Gundagai Shire deputy mayor David Graham said he has no intention to run for either job.
He said he was deputy in the past to support Cr McAlister, however he now believes that a mayor must come from one town and deputy from another; hence his decision.
“I believe I can do a lot more by being a councillor,” Cr Graham said.
Former Cootamundra Shire Council deputy mayor Dennis Palmer said on Tuesday he was still reviewing his options ahead of Thursday’s meeting, with no final decision made.
Meanwhile, Charlie Sheahan, who will serve his first term on council this time around, said he will not be vying for either position; he would like to wait until he has more experience.
Sheahan’s was a sentiment backed up by another first-time councillor in Gil Kelly, who confirmed he will not be running for either position.
Councillors yet to be contacted or respond on their intentions include Leigh Bowden, Penny Nicholson and Craig Stewart.
The meeting will commence at 4pm with community members welcome to attend.
