Kerry Pascoe back as mayor

ldavies@dailyadvertiser.com.auTHE reins at Wagga City Council have remained in familiar hands, with the mayor and deputy mayor both returned to their positions when elections were held at last night's meeting.Councillor Kerry Pascoe will remain mayor for another year, while Cr Lindsay Vidler will serve another term as his deputy.Cr Pascoe was reinstated for his sixth term as mayor, defeating challengers Cr Garry Hiscock and Cr Rod Kendall.Cr Alan Brown did not stand for mayor, despite suggesting last week he may throw his hat into the ring.It was smooth sailing for Cr Pascoe, who received a majority after the first round of voting.But voting for his deputy was not so simple.Four nominations were received, with Crs Alan Brown, Wayne Geale, Ray Goodlass and Lindsay Vidler all keen to take on the position.After the first round of voting, Cr Geale was excluded after receiving the equal-lowest number of votes and having his name drawn by lot.Cr Brown received the lowest number of votes in the second round, leaving Crs Goodlass and Vidler to contest the position.However, one councillor submitted an invalid ballot paper and the result was tied at two votes each, with the position of deputy mayor coming down to the luck of the draw.Cr Vidler was re-elected deputy and said he was "overwhelmed" by the result, sending a text message to tell his wife of his luck at the first opportunity."It's the only thing I've ever won out of a hat," he said.Cr Vidler said one councillor's decision to cast an invalid vote was a cause for concern."I don't know why we'd have an invalid vote, that worries me a bit," he said."Whether someone didn't like either of us, I don't know."Cr Pascoe said he was pleased his fellow councillors had decided to return him as mayor, but admitted feeling some pre-vote jitters."It's a very nervous time for me ?you get a few butterflies," he said.However, Cr Pascoe said he was looking forward to what the coming year holds."The first 12 months has been very good for the new council with a number of master plans put together," he said."During the next 12 months I hope to see work on the ground on those master plans."