Mayoral race down to the wire

By Sarah Schwager
CASEY’S next mayor looks to be a close contest between the north and the south, residential and rural, with Balla Balla Ward councillor Colin Butler and Four Oaks Ward councillor and deputy mayor Rob Wilson the forerunners.
Cr Wilson looks to be favourite among councillors from the north.
Councillors Michael Farley, Janet Halsall and Wayne Smith have expressed their support for the former mayor.
Councillors Steve Beardon and Paul Richardson favoured Cr Butler for the mayoralty, both expressing their preference for his anti-travel stance.
Cr Wilson’s previous term as mayor in 2004 gives him some experience over first-timer Cr Butler, but the newcomer said if he was elected he would be Casey’s first truly rural mayor.
The final verdict will come on Monday at the special council meeting, with the choice for mayor likely to come down to the line.
Councillors expect a rush of deals and demands on Sunday after the State Election.
Mayor Kevin Bradford chaired his final council meeting on Tuesday, with a reflective speech on the good and the bad times.
He has decided not to stand for mayor again.
“It’s been a good year. Without question there have been more positives than negatives,” Cr Bradford said.
“There are areas where council could improve, but that’s like any big business.”
Cr Bradford said he expected a close call between Cr Butler and Cr Wilson and expected councillor Mick Morland and Cr Farley would have the deciding votes.
“It’s really neck and neck. I couldn’t call it,” Cr Bradford said.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, the position of deputy mayor was also brought up by Cr Beardon.
The council protocol is that the former mayor becomes deputy mayor unless contested.
In that case, the majority vote wins, meaning any councillor could stand for the position of deputy mayor.
Both Crs Beardon and Richardson seemed a little confused about this policy, with Cr Beardon assuming no-one else could stand, while Cr Richardson seemed to be lost in a vicious cycle where deputy mayor becomes mayor and vice-versa.
This would obviously halt his desire to have, if not himself, Cr Butler in the chair.
“I would put myself for mayor, but now I would run for deputy mayor,” he said.
The other councillors were at a loss as to why the debate had been brought up as a motion, and Cr Smith said having been deputy mayor for two terms, it was not the glamorous role the councillors believed.
Cr Wreford said it did not mean anything except to fill the mayor’s place when he is not there.
“It makes sense to have someone with experience,” she said.