The allegations were publicly aired on Monday morning on 2DU radio station, and were strenuously denied by Mr Shields in a follow-up interview on Tuesday.

Cr Lawrence again raised those allegations at a media conference this week. The Daily Liberal has sought comment from Mr Shields, who has engaged defamation lawyers.

The nominations for the council election closed at midday on Wednesday.

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There was a late change to The Ben Shields Team on Tuesday afternoon, with former councillor Dayne Gumley withdrawn from nomination in the East Ward and replaced with Jeremy Ellis.

In a statement Mr Shields said, "Dayne Gumley was not able to get secondary employment approval before the due date of nominations.

"As such he has to withdraw. Dayne wishes all candidates well in the coming election."

Attempts by the Daily Liberal to contact Mr Gumley were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, Mr Ellis said his priority was to get councillors working for the community again which "hasn't been happening over the last few months".

Mr Shields will contest the central ward along with another former mayor Matthew Dickerson who is running as an independent, and current councillor Vicki Etheridge who is running under a Labor affiliation.

Nathan Ellis - Jeremy Ellis' brother - is also running in central under The Ben Shields Team, and Joe Knagge is a candidate in Ms Etheridge's group.

In east ward is Jeremy Ellis and Trina Thornbury under The Ben Shields Team, along with Labor's Tatum Moore and three independent candidates - well-known Dubbo resident Rod Fardell, Ana Pateman and Damien Mahon. Lewis Burns and Adele Burns are running as independents in a group.

North Ward has another former mayor contesting in Greg Matthews, as well as Dubbo Chamber of Commerce president Matt Wright, and independent Mathew Smith.

Labor's Pam Wells and Peter Allen are running as a group, as are independent candidates Grahame Miller and Karina McLachlain.

Mr Shields' long-time friend Mick Catelotti will run in The Ben Shields' Team along with former councillor and Mr Catelotti's mother-in-law Ann Barnard.

South Ward has current councillor Kevin Parker running as an independent as well as Shibli Chowdhury, Josh Black and Greg Hough contesting for Labor while current councillor Greg Mohr will run under The Ben Shields Team along with Merrilyn Mulcahy.

In Wellington, current deputy mayor Anne Jones is running as an independent, and so are Lizzy George and Richard Ivey, while Helen Swan with Christopher Bailey are running as a Labor group.

Jess Gough and Mikaela Solomons are contesting as part of The Ben Shields Team.

The Dubbo Regional Council local government elections are being held on Saturday, December 4.

Residents this year will also be asked whether they would like the ward system to be abolished.

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