When Peter Besseling was returned as the popularly elected mayor just eight months ago, he won almost 58 per cent of the vote.
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That represented just over 28,000 votes of the total of 50,297.
In a sometimes heated campaign, Mr Besseling proved too strong for fellow candidates, two Wauchope-based businesswomen in Peta Pinson and Cr Sharon Griffiths.
Ms Pinson achieved 14,274 votes – or a shade over 29 per cent while Cr Griffiths took 6374 votes or just over 13 per cent.
With Mr Besseling’s decision to resign on May 8, and with the election of a mayor and a councillor due within three months, where does that leave the two beaten candidates from the 2016 poll?
Ms Pinson was contacted for comment while Cr Griffiths says she will consider running.
“I will consider it. I will have to consider what I can contribute to the community and would I be of value (as a mayor) or am I just as much value where I am?” she said.
“If I do run for mayor, I have a positive concern for the community and I do want to look after a better understanding of what future plans look like for such things as roads and footpaths.
“That needs financial planning behind it, so that we get major infrastructure and timelines right.
“We also need more forward planning,” she added.
If she doesn’t run for the top job it will be because of time management issues and current work commitments.
Cr Griffiths said council needed to inform the community about how big ticket items, including roads and bridge works, would be tackled.
“People need to be guided on how council is going to get to its end goal of things like footpaths,” she said.
“We need to make sure we have effective plans that take us where we need to go and we look far enough into the future so there is connectivity so that roads, sewerage, water services etc all come together.”
Cr Griffiths congratulated Mr Besseling on his appointment as general manager of Birdon Marine.
“As mayor, he did try to push some boundaries in portfolio structures and to try and do things differently. He tried to work more with the community and tried to consolidate the community support in how things were managed,” she said.
Cr Rob Turner has already indicated he is a candidate for the top job – and he will resign from his role as a councillor at the May council meeting.
Another likely candidate, Cr Lisa Intemann has already ruled out a challenge saying she is content with her family commitments and current role as acting mayor and councillor.
