ORANGE’S mayoral result might have been expected, but re-elected mayor John Davis admitted he was “staggered” at the deputy’s result.
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When councillor Jeff Whitton unsuccessfully challenged Cr Davis on Tuesday night, both councillors said the result did not surprise them, but Cr Davis said councillor Jason Hamling was expected to receive seven votes for deputy mayor.
“On paper it was only three, so you just never know,” he said.
“I’m happy from my point of view [but] I was certainly staggered after the first round of the vote - you could say a lot of people in the room were really surprised.”
The two were running mates in the 2012 election.
With fellow deputy mayoral candidates Chris Gryllis and Scott Munro receiving four votes apiece, Cr Hamling’s three votes excluded him from the count and Cr Gryllis easily won the second ballot.
“[John and I] may agree and disagree on some things, but that’s how it should be and we will always do what’s best for Orange ratepayers,” Cr Gryllis said.
Cr Hamling voiced his disappointment, but said he was eager to run again next year.
“Life goes on, it’s not the end of the world,” he said.
Also taking courage from the experience was Cr Whitton, who said he would try again next year.
“The exercise for me was really good because it made my fellow councillors aware that I have aspirations to be mayor,” he said.
“[The lead in the online Central Western Daily poll] was pretty good actually - it was good to see there was some interest and they felt I would be a good mayor.”
Councillor Kevin Duffy also took encouragement from the poll, which identified him as the public’s preferred candidate for the deputy’s position, however a possible High Court challenge against his eligibility to serve as a councillor led him to withdraw his nomination on the night.
“I didn’t want to have a burden over my head while doing the deputy mayor’s job,” he said.
Fellow unsuccessful deputy mayoral candidate Scott Munro could not be reached for comment.
Councillors also voted on the five policy committee chairs - councillors Whitton, Reg Kidd, Ron Gander and Neil Jones will remain chairs of the sustainable development, infrastructure, services, and environment and economic development committees respectively, while Cr Duffy took on the finance committee chair’s position from Cr Gryllis.
danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au
