FORMER councillors have claimed Greg Conkey’s ascension to mayor validates the appointment process, dismissing calls for a direct vote.
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The Daily Advertiser polled more than 720 residents before the election, in which 62.3 per cent supported a directly elected mayor.
Dethroned mayor Rod Kendall was re-elected with the most votes in this month’s poll – comfortably outgunning his successor – but was outmaneuvered by his detractors at Monday night’s meeting.
But ousted Greens councillor Kevin Poynter has argued local government works better when councillors choose the leader of their own accord.
“The mayor's role is to facilitate the work of councillors and act as representative of councillors to the community and press,” Mr Poynter said.
“It’s important councillors have opportunity choose the mayor they can best work with.”
Councillor Conkey’s appointment was steeped in partisan politics.
Seen as the compromise candidate, Cr Conkey was the circuit breaker when a powerplay between Cr Kendall and conservative challenger Paul Funnell reached a stalemate.
Recently retired councillor Julian McLaren acknowledged the current system would never shake horse trading and backroom dealing, regardless of how local politicians try to spin it.
“Deals have to be done, even if the person at top didn't horse trade, others did to get the result they wanted,” Mr McLaren said.
“Greg Conkey’s first statement as mayor was he didn’t do deals, but in the same breath he said Dallas Tout as deputy mayor was not negotiable.”
But Mr McLaren said Wagga voters’ overwhelming apathy toward council chambers nullified change.
“People don’t know the individuals; most people who vote for Rod Kendall think they’re supporting a conservative business person, when in actual fact he leans left on most issues,” he said.
“That disinterest can also lead to an unimpeachable mayor, like (mayor of Temora Shire) Rick Firman, who gets 60 per cent of the vote because of his high profile.”
Fellow retired councillor Garry Hiscock also dicounted the merits of a popularly elected mayor, warning of “high profile football players or businessmen” winning the vote without adequate credentials.