Earlier in the week the mayor was presented with a petition with more than 2600 signatures calling for Kevin Parker to resign. The petition was created after a racist email surfaced, sent by the councillor in January.

"It shows public sentiment but at the end of the day, a petition can't force someone from public office. That's up to the state government and it's also up to Cr Parker himself," Cr Shields said.

A code of conduct complaint has been made about the email and the mayor said it was very important that the process takes place "uninhibited". However, he said he hoped a result would come back sooner rather than later due to the public interest.

The Daily Liberal has made attempts to contact Cr Parker, but he is yet to respond.

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Dubbo Regional Council chief executive officer Michael McMahon said Cr Parker had written to him requesting a leave of absence for a month. The request will be tabled at the upcoming council meeting.

Cr Shields said he had briefly spoken to his colleague and his indication was that Cr Parker would "weather the storm".

"I personally think, considering Cr Parker has shown he's not that keen on running again in the next election and considering the gravity of it, if it was me personally I would just go quietly. If he were to go now it wouldn't even cause a by-election," the mayor said.

Cr Shields said he was disappointed in the email because it was taking attention away from the positive things Dubbo council had done.

"Dubbo in general over the past couple of years has put so many runs on the board when it comes to Aboriginal relations, whether it be the Bill Ferguson statue to campaigning for better social outcomes to even the drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre," he said.

"There are so many things that we've been working towards and just a ridiculous, irresponsible, nonsensical email has thrown that all up in the air."