City to decide its mayor tonight

THE new City of Greater Geelong council will meet for the first time tonight (Thursday, November 12) to elect a mayor for a term of two years.

The council will also consider the establishment of the office of the deputy mayor and, if established, the election of the deputy mayor.

Councillors will meet in person, however, in line with Victorian Government COVID-19 safety requirements, members of the public will not be admitted.

In all Victorian councils except Melbourne City Council, the mayor and deputy mayor are elected by the council group.

This is a direction of the Victorian Government under the Local Government Act 2020.

The City of Greater Geelong chose its mayor from among the councillors up until 2012, when Keith Fagg became Geelong’s first directly-elected mayor.

Mr Fagg’s resignation the next year triggered a by-election, in which Darryn Lyons became mayor.

The state government sacked Mr Lyons and the entire council following a commission of inquiry in 2016 and appointed administrators, who governed until the next council election in 2017.

A citizens’ jury recommended Geelong no longer elect its mayors by popular vote, which was accepted by the state government. Bruce Harwood was elected mayor by his fellow councillors at the 2017 election, followed by Stephanie Asher in 2019.

People can watch tonight’s meeting live online from 7.30pm at geelongaustralia.com.au/meetings.