Surf Coast Shire has a new mayor and deputy mayor elected for the first year of council’s four-year term.
Anglesea’s Mike Bodsworth was elected mayor, and Aireys Inlet’s Libby Stapleton was elected deputy mayor of Surf Coast Shire Council during a special meeting on Thursday, November 14.
Former deputy mayor Bodsworth ran against councillor Paul Barker as candidates for mayor, with six out of nine councillors voting for Mayor Bodsworth to take on the role.
“We’ve got an exciting new council with important work to do. New councillors bring new perspectives, and I think a fresh council is great,” Mayor Bodsworth said.
“My priorities as mayor will be to help us all work together to build a strong council culture, and one of the early pieces of work we’ll be working on is the council plan.
“In the New Year, we also have the budget process. That’s a really important one and I know the new councillors are going to play a really important role in the budget process.”
Councillors also decided during the meeting that council would continue to have a deputy mayor role for another term and that the mayor and deputy mayor would serve a 12-month period.
Former mayor Cr Liz Patterson said it was important that council had a deputy mayor to assist the mayor and learn more about council’s role in the community.
“I found in my two years as mayor that having a deputy mayor was invaluable and a great opportunity for another councillor to learn and understand the role of mayor,” she said.
Deputy Mayor Stapleton received the highest councillor votes for the role, with five votes, against candidates Cr Barker, who received three votes, and Cr Adrian Schonfelder, who received one vote.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to support our new council as deputy mayor and help ensure we get off to a really strong start in this new council term,” Deputy Mayor Stapleton said.
“I am committed to promoting a culture of teamwork amongst councillors, upholding standards of behaviour and integrity, while also ensuring good governance and transparency of council.”
