Dubbo mayor Mathew Dickerson will be challenged by councillor John Walkom at next week's mayoral election.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It is not known whether deputy mayor Ben Shields or councillor Greg Mohr will also stand for mayor at the Extraordinary Meeting.
Councillors Shields and Mohr would not confirm or deny if they would submit their names for the role.
Cr Walkom said he had strong support to run for mayor.
"It's something that I've always wanted to do. I'm happy to put my hand up and stand," he said.
Councillors are elected for a four year term, but a mayor is elected every year. For the past three years Cr Dickerson has been elected unopposed.
Cr Dickerson said this would be the last year he would vie for mayor, after which it was his intention to remain as a councillor.
"I've always said that I'd like to get through to the 2016 election. By then I'll have been mayor for five years," he said
"It would be easier to stand unopposed, but it's a democracy, if someone else stands, someone else stands."
He said there were things he would like to finish over the year and as "the ship was travelling well", it would be good to keep it travelling in the same direction.
There have been mixed responses from councillors about who they would like to see in the top role.
"It would require a person that's able to commit to a full-time position," councillor Kevin Parker said.
"It's working very well at the moment so I don't see any need for change."
Councillor Lyn Griffiths said Cr Dickerson had been doing a very good job and she was happy with what had been accomplished, while councillor Rod Towney said he would also be supporting Cr Dickerson, as he didn't see the need to fix something that wasn't broken.
Councillor Allan Smith said if Cr Walkom ran, he would get his full support.
However, councillor Greg Matthews said he was undecided about who would get his vote.
"There's two candidates that I know of and I wouldn't say I'm 1000 per cent happy with either of them. I'll probably make my mind up on the day."
Councillor Bill Kelly said based on the lack of lobbying, it seemed people were satisfied with the status quo.
"The election is on the 10th so you would think if they're going to go [for the position] they would have made it clear by now."
The deputy mayor will also be decided at the meeting. Last year, Cr Shields was unopposed for the role.
Chairperson for council's Planning and Development Committee, Works and Services Committee and Finance and Policy Committee will be determined at a later date.
The Planning and Development Committee and the Works and Services Committee is currently chaired by councillor Lyn Griffiths. Cr Walkom is the current chair of the Finance and Policy Committee.
The Extraordinary Meeting for the the Mayoral Election will be held on September 10 at 5.30 pm.
Councillor Tina Reynolds was contacted but did not respond.
Wellington Mayor Rod Buhr could face challenges for his job from two candidates at next week's mayoral election.
Speculation over a challenge went into overdrive on Monday when a councillor posted a message on Facebook asking residents who she should vote for in the election.
Wellington Shire Council has nine councillors. No councillors have formally stated they will stand against Cr Buhr. But, it is understood former mayor Cr Anne Jones who scored the most votes at the last local government elections but was beaten 5-4 in the vote for the top job is looking to see if the numbers are there for a run against Cr Buhr.
Insiders say Deputy Mayor Cr David Grant also has support. Cr Grant said while he does aspire to the job eventually he would talk to people about it and would discuss the election possibilities with Cr Buhr in the next few days.
The election comes as the council is under scrutiny for its Fit For the Future proposal to the government body which will recommend whether it should remain a stand-alone local government or merge with the Dubbo and Narromine councils.
Mayor Rod Buhr virtually revealed tough decisions may have made him unpopular.
''My priority has and will always be making sure we have a council which is fit for the future and focuses on improving our infrastructure. I believe that is what is in the best interests of our community in the long term,'' he said.