Carmelo Pesce is expected to be re-elected mayor of Sutherland Shire on Monday night.
It will be Cr Pesce's fifth year in the job and he will serve until the next election, which was delayed a year until September 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Liberal and Labor teams each have seven votes, with independent Steve Simpson to cast the decider.
In 2018, Cr Simpson, a former Liberal, did a deal to support Cr Pesce for mayor, in return for the deputy mayor's job.
Cr Simpson declined to comment on his intentions at Monday night's meeting, but councillors on both sides don't expect his vote to change and it is likely he will continue as deputy mayor.
Cr Pesce, who also declined to comment, was preselected unanimously by the Liberal team about five weeks ago, while Labor councillors will meet tomorrow (Saturday) to choose their nominee.
Labor caucus chairman Peter Scaysbrook is considered unlikely to stand for the position again, leaving it to a younger team member.
Cr Scaysbrook said "the extra year in the council term has provided the opportunity to put a circuit breaker in place to better address some of the issues facing Sutherland Council in the next twelve months."
"The Labor team is fortunate in having a broad range of talent and experience, with any one of our Councillors capable of filling the roles of mayor and deputy mayor," he said.
"Our group will meet to decide our candidates on Saturday, and then seek whatever support is available in the vote on Monday night."
An interesting aspect of Monday night's election is the position of Labor councillor Barry Collier, who has attended meetings remotely during the coronavirus pandemic.
It is understood the Office of Local Government has advised that, as long as voting is carried out through an open show of hands, a vote cast remotely will be valid.
However, if a secret vote is adopted by the meeting, then a remote vote will not be valid.
At this stage, it appears voting will be by a show of hands.
