The region has been through a tumultuous by-election and election campaign in the past few months, the result of which was drastic change.

Whether that change was for better or worse is still to be determined but the people were brave enough to vote for change.

Wagga City Council held its mayoral elections on Monday night and another chance for change presented itself.

Vanessa Keenan put her hand up to become mayor, in what would have been the first female mayor in the city’s history.

Councillors voted to keep mayor Greg Conkey and deputy mayor Dallas Tout in their current positions for another two years.

We congratulate these two men, who have a strong affiliation with this community, in retaining the top jobs.

Had the public voted, would it have been a different result? Who knows?

Should the city’s residents, not the councillors, be the ones to elect the mayor?

That’s a conversation for a different day.

For now, the pressure is on council and its re-elected leaders to ensure Wagga gets the attention it deserves, especially with an Independent holding the state seat.

Crs Conkey and Tout have done wonderful work and been great advocates for the city of Wagga.

Council went through a tumultuous time in recent years but the dignity of council remains in tact and that is a testament to its leaders.

It would have been interesting to see what direction council would have taken with new, younger blood at the helm.

And maybe that will be the leadership for the next council.

We have two years to advocate for younger councillors, new councillors, female councillors.

The city’s residents talk lots about change but very few put their hands up to implement it.

Who would you like to see run for council in 2020?

A lot can change or happen in two years and it will be interesting to see the direction council takes in that time.