COMPETITOR: Mayor John Davis is comfortable in the mayoral seat. Photo: STEVE GOSCH
MAYOR John Davis said the anticlimax of Thursday night’s mayoral election meant the politics had been taken out of council.
Cr Davis was elected unopposed. Cr Russell Turner had indicated he would run for mayor.
Cr Davis said he was surprised nobody challenged him.
“It was a surprise to me, I can only handle what challenges are in front of me,” he said.
“I put my name up to be mayor and there were no other challenges on the night.
“It’s not my fault nobody else put their hand up.”
Cr Davis would not speculate on why he had no challengers.
He said if the result hadbeen six-all he would still have run for mayor.
“I’m a competitor,” he said.
Cr Davis said the result showed the new council was united.
“ I am pleased with that because I think we are one of the only councils in the area now where that will happen,” he said.
Cr Neil Jones hoped the council would move on from factional differences that had affected the council in the past.
“There were people who were given preferences by Russell Turner that were very keen to work with everyone on council,” he said.
“I hope everyone can set aside political differences.”
Cr Davis said the events of Thursday night’s meeting demonstrated councillors had similar ideas.
“Some of the people who were part of my support base nominated people for heads of committees who were on Russell’s ticket, so I think that shows we will have solidarity in council and I am pleased we will be united,” he said.
Cr Davis has been elected mayor 18 out of 19 years. He has been on Orange council for nine years. He was mayor at Blayney previously.
He said he had no plans to dramatically change the direction of council.