The final field of nominations for mayor of the city was confirmed on Wednesday along with 33 hopefuls seeking one of the eight city council spots.

The all-important ballot draw was also conducted for both polls to determine the order of names on the ballot paper.

In the mayoral race, sitting councillor Kathryn Bell of Taree drew the top spot on the ballot.

She will be followed by current deputy mayor David West of Brimbin and Johns River resident Tony Galati.

Incumbent mayor Paul Hogan of Taree has drawn the fourth spot, followed by Bob Smith of Harrington and Strathcedar’s Peter Epov.

Sitting councillor Alan Tickle of Black Head takes spot number seven with the field rounded out by Taree’s Craig Huth, who has been granted permission to be listed by his radio announcer name of ‘Diceman’ Huth on the ballot paper.

Group voting will be a major part of the 2012 election, with 26 of the council nominees standing as part of six groups and the other seven candidates to be listed solo on the ballot paper.

This means voters can number above the line to vote for the group of their choice or can mark the names of individual candidates below the line.

Kathryn Bell’s luck of the draw continued when her group also drew pole position on the councillor ballot.

She heads Group A followed by Brenden Summerfield of Marlee, Dick Quinn of Hallidays Point and Richard Crook of Old Bar.

Group B is headed by Peter Epov and includes Bruce Robertson of Burrell Creek, Kerry Anderson of Elands, David Rankin of Mondrook and Jenny Michael of The Bight.

Mayor Paul Hogan is atop the third group and is joined by sitting councillor Trent Jennison of Cundletown along with Wingham’s Robyn Jenkins, Taree’s Tim Deverell and Diamond Beach’s Michael Kent.

Group D is also led by a sitting councillor in Alan Tickle of Black Head, who is joined by Susie Rack of Tinonee, Brian Buckley of Old Bar and Walter Vanderpoll of Johns River.

Mayoral candidate Bob Smith also leads Group E and is joined by fellow Harrington resident Joan Hall along with Cundletown’s Debbie Douthie and Coopernook’s David Levy.

Sitting councillor David Keegan of Pampoolah is the only group leader not also seeking the mayoral position but he is joined in Group F by Paul Lewers of Bobin, Christine Gibbons of Tinonee and Bryan Clancy of Glenthorne.

The seven ungrouped candidates, in the order listed by the NSW Electoral Commission, are Nawal Maharaj of Harrington, Brad Christensen of Cundletown, Mike Hudson of Moorland, Craig ‘Diceman’ Huth, Tony Galati, David West and Alex Cosway of Taree.

At least one-third of the new council is guaranteed to be new faces with three sitting councillors - former mayor Eddie Loftus, former deputy Mal Marks and Cr Mave Richardson - not seeking re-election.