Councillor Carmelo Pesce, who is expected to become mayor of Sutherland Shire on Monday night, says any perception he has links to developers is wrong.
"I am not associated with developers; I am a cleanskin, a family man," he told the Leader.
Cr Pesce, who has been deputy mayor for the last year, is set to succeed Kent Johns, who decided not to seek another term.
Liberals, who make up 11 of the 15 councillors, will meet on Sunday evening to choose the new leadership team.
Under party rules they are bound to vote for the group's choice at the council meeting the following night.
The deputy mayor's position is extremely contentious, with Councillors Hassan Awada and Carol Provan fighting it out. (See below).
Labor councillor Phil Blight said there was "a great deal of concern" about the mayoral election with Liberal Counciilors forced by the party to follow a caucus vote.
"A gang of six can force the 11 Liberal councillors to vote one way, meaning a new mayor only has the support of six of 15 councillors," he said.
"The result could be quite different if all councillors could vote the way they wished."
Cr Pesce, 49, is married with three children, aged 15-24, and lives at Kangaroo Point.
He said he entered local government three years ago "to put something back in" after having success in business.
Cr Pesce operates a shopfitting business and owns several other properties in the shire, including four home units and two shops in Cronulla.
His shops include Bianchini's Espresso at Cronulla and Gymea.
Cr Pesce said, his shopfitting business involved the building trades, but that was the limit of his association with the industry.
"I have never done any development apart from work on my own homes before I joined the council," he said.
"The home units and shops I own, which have mortgages, are an investment, my superannuation.
"I am not interested in developing; I am interested in collecting the rents."
Cr Pesce said when the zones in which his properties were located were discussed for the new local environmental plan, he declared an interest and left the meeting.
Cr Pesce said, if he became mayor, he would work hard to win the respect of council staff and other councillors.
"It's all about listening, not about being a dictator," he said.
DEPUTY MAYOR CONTENTIOUS
Rumblings continue in the liberal ranks about Cr Hassan Awada seeking the deputy mayor's role because he has a property development background.
If he is elected, at least one councillor could split from the Liberals group.
Cr Awada, declined to comment, but it is understood he has assured other councillors he is not currently a developer.
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