COUNCILLOR Michael Britten is the new mayor of Bega Valley Shire following a vote by councillors on Wednesday afternoon that saw a major changing of the guard.
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Cr Liz Seckold was elected deputy mayor, narrowly defeating Cr Sharon Tapscott, five votes to four.
The surprises started early when, in front of a packed public gallery, Mayor Bill Taylor announced he would not stand again for mayor or contest the deputy mayor position.
The nominees for mayor were Crs Britten, Ann Mawhinney, Russell Fitzpatrick and Keith Hughes.
The councillors voted unanimously to use an open show of hands voting system over an open paper ballot or secret paper ballot.
Cr Britten drew ahead early with four votes, Cr Fitzpatrick three, Cr Mawhinney two and Cr Hughes none.
After Crs Hughes and Mawhinney were eliminated they shifted their votes to Cr Britten and he won 6-3.
Cr Taylor gave a speech following the vote congratulating Mayor Britten and reflecting on his two years as mayor.
“It’s been an honour to be mayor of this council and I’m particularly proud of all the new councillors – Sharon Tapscott, Kristy McBain and Ann Mawhinney – and all they learned and achieved since they came on board in 2012.
“It’s also been an honour to work with general manager Leanne Barnes and she’s an exceptional person to lead the organisation and I look forward to sitting on the ‘back bench’ and working with Leanne and our fantastic staff.
“I think the vast majority of residents would agree that council does an exceptional job despite constraints imposed upon it by State Government.”
He also took a parting swipe at what he labelled "clumsy and ridiculous" interference by the leader of a political party and a local lobby group - who he did not name - in trying to get their preferred candidate elected.
"It is fortunate we don't have political influence on this council," he said.
He then happily swapped chairs with Mayor Britten, taking his place next to Cr McBain.
There were five nominations for deputy mayor - Crs Mawhinney, Hughes, Tapscott and Tony Allen, as well as Deputy Mayor Fitzpatrick.
However, following the official naming of the nominees, Cr Allen withdrew his nomination.
Cr Mawhinney was the first to be eliminated, followed by Cr Fitzpatrick, which left Crs Seckold and Tapscott in the running.
With Crs Fitzpatrick and Mawhinney out of the race they, along with Cr Allen, gave their votes to Cr Seckold, ensuring her win.
Cr Seckold said her election came as a "big shock".
She said her family was warmly welcomed into the Bega Valley when they arrived in the district 32 years ago and it was good to be able to give something back.
Coincidentally, the new mayor and deputy mayor were both in the graduating class of 1962 at Canberra High School.
Cr Tapscott said she wasn't too disappointed to have failed in her bid to be second in charge and reiterated comments made earlier in the week that all councillors supported the mayor in his role.
She added that she was very pleased to see a woman in the role of deputy mayor.
In a lengthy prepared statement, Mayor Britten said he was “pleased that councillors have chosen me to lead them for the next 12 months”.
He said his priorities were business growth in the shire, preparing the council for the State Government’s Fit for the Future local government reform plan and a focus on councillor education.
