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He had to beat out two other nominees for the big chair, with former mayor Cr Owen Sharkey and fellow freshman representative Cr Ian Getsom both putting their hands up.<\/p>\n
In the initial vote, Cr Getsom backed himself, alongside Cr Kirby.<\/p>\n
Cr Sharkey voted for himself alongside Cr Les Rowe, while Cr Clayton Whitfield and Cr Brett Cunningham voted for Cr Gamble, as did the nominee.<\/p>\n
As an absolute majority of four was not seen, a vote second vote was held to keep either Cr Getsom or Cr Sharkey in the race.<\/p>\n
Cr Kirby, Cr Gamble and Cr Cunningham voted to keep Cr Getsom in the running, alongside the nominee, while Cr Sharkey was eliminated on his own vote, and those of Cr Rowe and Cr Whitfield.<\/p>\n
In the final vote, Cr Getsom had his, Cr Kirby\u2019s and Cr Rowe\u2019s backing, but Cr Cunningham, Cr Whitfield and Cr Sharkey supported Cr Gamble, as did the nominee, making him the new Shire mayor.<\/p>\n
Immediate former deputy-mayor and defeated challenger Cr Getsom was not unhappy with the election outcome, congratulating Cr Gamble, but he was \u201cso disappointed\u201d with the process.<\/p>\n
Approaching the election, he said he made a solid plan with fellow members of a grouping of councillors that\u2019s become known as the Time for Change coalition, which includes Crs Cunningham, Whitfield and Kirby.<\/p>\n
Yet it didn\u2019t eventuate on the night.<\/p>\n
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