Maitland councillors may defer its election for a deputy mayor given the pending merger proposal with Dungog.
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Councillors will put the matter to a vote at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
Cr Bob Geoghegan was elected deputy mayor in September last year.
He was elected to council as an independent candidate but is a member of the Liberal Party.
To Tuesday’s meeting councillors will be given two options:
. To defer the election of the deputy mayor until a decision on the possible merger with Dungog council or
. Determine the deputy mayor for September 2016 on wards and if required conduct an election for the position.
Cr Bob Geoghegan edged out fellow councillor Ken Wethered by one vote to claim the role of deputy mayor of Maitland at last year’s election.
Cr Geoghegan won the vote, seven to six, at the last election when the vote was taken by a show of hands in the council chamber.
After the decision, Cr Wethered called for a division over councillors’ previous decision of whether a show of hands, preferential voting or a secret ballot should be used to elect the deputy mayor.
