Wagga City Council prepares to vote for mayor, Rod Kendall confirms he will not seek return to top spot

The late decision means returning councillors Dallas Tout and Dan Hayes will be the only two councillors facing off for the mayoral chains.

Both confirmed their intentions to lead council following last month's council election, while the other seven councillors have now all ruled themselves out.

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The vote for mayor will be the first point of order when the new councillors meet formally for the first time on Monday night.

General manager Peter Thompson will act as returning officer for the vote and both Cr Tout and Cr Hayes must be nominated by at least two councillors to enter the running.

Once voting is complete, whoever is chosen by his fellow councillors will serve as mayor until January 2024. The vote for mayor will be followed by a vote for the deputy mayor position.

Cr Rod Kendall, who served as the city's mayor between 2012 and 2015, previously said he would consider a return to the top position, but has now confirmed he will be letting either Cr Tout or Cr Hayes claim the role.

"I will not be putting my name forward for either the mayor or deputy mayor position," Cr Kendall said.

"There's some personal reasons ... but also I think the two candidates who have decided to put their hand up for mayor are both capable candidates."

When he spoke to The Daily Advertiser, the former mayor was undecided on which of the two candidates he would support.

"I am happy there are two viable candidates, both of whom haven't been mayor, both of whom aspire to the job and both of whom I believe could do a good job."

Cr Kendall urged whichever candidate was successful to "put their own stamp" on the role and draw from their experiences - both good and bad - under other mayors.

Cr Hayes said he is "really excited" about the upcoming vote regardless of the outcome.

"I hope I get the support but if not I've still got the job as councillor and will be doing that with as much passion and enthusiasm as I have been already," the Labor councillor said.

"Whoever it is, the expectation from the other councillors will be that they work with the councillors, work with the community and represent Wagga the best they can."

Cr Tout, who has served as deputy mayor for the past six years, said he was ready to take the next step and hopeful his fellow councillors would agree.

"I have the passion, the leadership and the experience so I'm looking forward to it and I hope the other councillors put their faith in me and elect me mayor," he said.

"To me, the expectation is that the leadership of the council sits with the nine councillors. The mayor and the deputy mayor represent them between meetings but it's about ensuring the whole of the council are still the leaders of the community and discussions are among the whole group."

Councillors will have the choice of choosing the mayor by preferential ballot, ordinary ballot or open voting.

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