Cr West was returned to the top job earlier this afternoon, Wednesday, September 22 during this month's ordinary meeting with a majority vote of four to two.

"I cannot show my appreciation for the confidence you have shown to elect me," he said.

Cr West was challenged for the position by Peter Epov, who was nominated and supported by Kathryn Bell.

Before the ballot councillors opted to vote for the two candidates with a show of hands.

General manager, Adrian Panuccio was the returning officer.

Cr West was supported by Troy Fowler, Len Roberts, Karen Hutchinson and Claire Pontin. Kathryn Smith declined to vote.

Deputy mayor, Claire Pontin, who was returned for a second term, was initially elected in 2019.

Former deputy mayor, Cr Smith said her decision not to vote was her belief the State government had got the mayoral election process wrong.

A mayoral election must be held in the September two years after the ordinary election of councillors or the first election of a new council following its establishment.

We are in election mode; we have an election in 10 weeks, which is really only six weeks, Cr Smith said.

"For four of those weeks we are in caretaker mode," she said.

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