Pot luck as Shepparton's mayor elected

In accordance with the governance rules, a ballot was conducted to eliminate one of the tied candidates.

Each of the councillors pulled a slip of paper from a bucket, and it was Cr Priestly who drew the slip with "eliminated" on it.

“It is the system we have, it is a good system. I have no qualms, I'm happy to see Kim in the role, she will do a fantastic job,” he said after the meeting.

With three candidates left standing, all councillors voted again and the votes of Cr Priestly, and Cr Shane Sali, who had nominated him for mayor, both shifted to Cr O'Keeffe.

Cr Summer was then eliminated based on having the lowest number of votes and in the final round of voting, Cr O'Keeffe won, 6-3.

Cr Priestly's pitch for the top job focussed on the clear mandate from the community for change in the organisation.

“There can be no change unless there is change in this room,” he said.

“The community is excited, expectations are high, we need to deliver a mayor that can deliver,” he said.

Cr Summer, who has the most experience on Council but is also frequently the loudest critic, said the role of "neutral conveyor of Council policy" would force her to take a back seat.

“I would even cut the ribbon on SAM with a smile on my face knowing that it is Council policy,” she said.

Cr Abdullah said during her term as mayor she had demonstrated effective leadership and she urged councillors to elect her mayor to provide stability and leadership in the first term while the new councillors " . . . get their feet under the desk.”

The pitch from Cr O'Keeffe was along similar lines of an experienced and steady hand.

However, in a nod to her significant primary vote at the election, she said while she considered herself the best person for mayor she also believed it was ". . . the expectation of the community.”

When it came to deputy mayor, Cr Priestly nominated himself while Cr Anthony Brophy, declined to accept his nomination.

Cr Priestly was therefore elected unopposed.