Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors will meet tomorrow night to elect a new mayor after Anthony Marsh resigned from council following his election to State Parliament.
The unscheduled council meeting will take place at 5.30pm on Tuesday 2 June at the Shire’s Rosebud offices in Besgrove Street.
Councillors will elect a new mayor and, if required, a new deputy mayor.
The vote follows a major change in local leadership after Marsh, the former mayor and Briars Ward councillor, resigned from council after being elected as the Member for Nepean.
Council Could Deadlock
The mayoral vote could prove more complicated than a routine leadership change, with the council currently operating with 10 councillors following Marsh’s resignation.
If two candidates nominate and councillors split five votes each, the vote would need to be re-cast.
Under the Shire’s Governance Rules, if the vote remains tied after being re-cast, the Chief Executive Officer will seek to adjourn the meeting to 6pm the following day so a new meeting can be held to resolve the election of the mayor.
The possibility of a deadlock adds another layer to the leadership vote, which comes after months of high-profile council debates and a state by-election that removed the sitting mayor from the chamber.
Public Can Attend Or Watch Online
The Shire says members of the public can attend the meeting in person by registering through council’s website.
The meeting will also be available to watch by livestream.
Council confirmed Marsh’s resignation on 14 May, saying Chief Executive Officer Mark Stoermer had formally received the resignation and would begin the required processes under the Local Government Act.
Deputy Mayor Paul Pingiaro has been acting as mayor since Marsh stepped away from council duties to contest the Nepean by-election.
Leadership Vote Follows State By-Election
Marsh took leave from council duties earlier this year while contesting the Nepean by-election, which was held on 2 May.
His election to State Parliament leaves Mornington Peninsula Shire facing a leadership reset less than two years after the 2024 local government elections.
The mayoral vote will determine who leads the council through the next stage of the term, with major local issues still before the Shire, including planning, roads, housing pressure, public land management and the council’s relationship with the State Government.
The meeting is listed as an unscheduled ordinary meeting and will be held at the Municipal Offices, 90 Besgrove Street, Rosebud.
What Happens Next
The new mayor will take over the civic leadership role immediately after the vote, unless councillors fail to resolve the election.
If councillors also decide a new deputy mayor is required, that position will be dealt with at the same meeting.
The Shire has not named any candidate for the mayoral role ahead of the meeting.
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