Within minutes of Peter Besseling on Monday resigning from the position he held for five years, Cr Rob Turner formally announced he would nominate for the role.

That decision will see voters go to the polls within three months to elect a new mayor and a councillor.

Cr Turner has indicated he will resign as a councillor following the May 17 council meeting.

“In conjunction with my decision to stand as mayor, I will give formal notice to the general manager later today (Monday) that I will be resigning as a councillor,” he said.

“In doing so the potential for a second by-election would be avoided and will enable the mayoral and councillor by-elections to be held on the same date.

“Under the current legislation, if I was to successfully stand for mayor and not resign as councillor, another by election would be triggered for the vacant councillor position.”

Cr Turner said he was ‘surprised and probably a little disappointment’ that Peter Besseling had resigned as mayor.

“I think he has done a really good job. The whole council organisation is running smoothly and council has improved its position significantly since coming out of administration,” he said.

“Council just last month adopted a new structure with an increased focus on strategy and growth while retaining the amenity for the people that live here.

“That is just starting off and I would want to embed that.

“I hope the community agrees with me that it is better to have a councillor with the skills and knowledge of council operations to support a business as usual approach,” he said.

Cr Turner said his family had been supportive of his decision to stand as a candidate while his business colleagues and partners were also supporting his move.

He has spoken with the majority of councillors about his decision, he added.

Cr Turner said he would provide stability for the organisation and the region ensuring business as usual.

“Council has made significant and well-documented achievements since coming out of administration and it is vital that we keep the momentum,” he said.

“Council is like no other organisation; it takes time to develop an understanding of the structure and its requirements. As a current councillor, the past five years have given me the knowledge and skills required.”

Cr Turner is chair of the economic development steering group and the economic and cultural development portfolio.

He served as president of the chamber of commerce and chair of the Port Macquarie Base Hospital board of advice.

He was elected to council in 2012. He remains a partner of Life Pharmacy Group.