Des Kennedy has been elected as mayor of the new Mid-Western Regional Council.
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At the first meeting of the newly elected council on Wednesday night, Cr Kennedy was returned as mayor by five votes to four.
He was supported by Cr Paul Cavalier, Cr Russell Holden, Cr Peter Shelley and Cr John O’Neill.
Cr Percy Thompson and Cr Alex Karavas also nominated for the role of mayor. Each received two votes.
Cr Paul Cavalier was elected as deputy mayor.
Cr Kennedy welcomed the newest councillors, Cr O’Neill, Cr Karavas and Cr Sam Paine and welcomed back Cr Russell Holden, who previously served as a councillor from 2008 to 2012.
“Council is a $90 million business with 347 employees so it’s probably approaching the biggest organisations in town and I will be endeavouring to see it is run as efficiently as possible,” Cr Kennedy said.
Cr Kennedy urged returning councillors to put “any bad blood” behind them and start afresh in the new council.
“We have got a lot of challenges: An art gallery, activities for youth, stage two of Glen Willow...We have got to bang on the doors of politicians for money otherwise we are just marking time.”
Cr Kennedy encouraged fellow councillors to bring their ideas – even if they are out of left field – to the table.