The battle to take Corangamite Shire’s top job is shaping up as a two-horse race between the current mayor and a first-term councillor.
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Mayor Jo Beard has indicated she will stand for a third term and faces a challenge from coastal ward councillor Simon Illingworth, who will also put his hand up at Tuesday’s mayoral election.
Cr Beard, who joined the council as the south-central ward representative in 2011, was first voted in as mayor in 2015.
“It’s been a challenging year but continuity will be a good thing,” Cr Beard said.
“The mayor is there to represent the council and I believe I’ve done that well.”
Cr Beard said she was community-minded and looked forward to continuing Corangamite’s advocacy work with both sides of politics.
Cr Illingworth said it was important to challenge the status quo.
The Port Campbell-based councillor disagrees with the current system and believes mayors should be voted in by ratepayers, rather than their fellow councillors.
“The public should hire and fire their mayors,” he said. “I’m playing in a system I don’t agree with.”
South-west ward representative Neil Trotter said he would not nominate for the role. Cr Trotter indicated he would support Cr Beard in her bid.
North ward councillor Lesley Brown and central ward’s Ruth Gstrein, Bev McArthur and Helen Durant also said they would not be nominating.
Cr Brown said as a first-term councillor, there was still a lot to learn before she would consider standing for mayor.