Edward River Council has a new mayor in Councillor Peta Betts.
Cr Betts was elected at the first meeting of the new Edward River Council this morning, with Cr Pat Fogarty the only other nominee.
The vote was in Cr Betts’ favour seven votes to two.
In her speech to council ahead of the mayoral election, Cr Betts emphasized generational change, accountability, effective leadership and teamwork, and good financial management for the benefit of ratepayers, as her focus in this term.
Cr Paul Fellows – in his first ever term on council – was elected deputy mayor unchallenged.
Due to the COVID-related deferment of the recent local government elections from September 2020 to December 2021, the next local government election will take place in September 2024.
It will impact the terms of Crs Betts and Fellows, who will remain in their roles for a period of one year and nine months as opposed to the usual two years.