Bayside Council has elected a new mayor, Councillor Christina Curry and a new deputy mayor, Cr Scott Morrissey.
They were elected at an extraordinary meeting of Bayside Council at Rockdale Town Hall last night, January 5.
There were three nominations for mayor: Cr Curry (ALP), nominated by Crs Bill Saravinovski and Joe Awada; Cr Mark Hanna (Independent), nominated by Crs Liz Barlow and Andrew Tsounis; and Cr Tsounis (Independent), nominated by Crs Hanna and Barlow.
Cr Hanna was eliminated in the first round voting and Cr Curry was elected in the second round by 12 votes to three.
There were two nominations for deputy mayor, Cr Morrissey, nominated by Crs Saravinovski and Awada; and Cr Barlow (Independent), nominated by Crs Hanna and Tsounis.
Cr Morrissey was elected by nine votes to six.
Both Crs Curry and Morrissey are from Ward 1 in the former Botany Council local government area.
Councillors also voted for the deputy mayor to have the same two-year term as the mayor.
Cr Barlow called for the deputy mayor to have a one-year term.
"We have never had the mayor and deputy mayor form the same ward in the history of Rockdale or Bayside Councils," Cr Barlow said.
But Cr Awada supported a two-year term for deputy mayor.
"We want stability for Bayside Council so I'm definitely supporting a two-year term for deputy mayor, the same as the mayor," he said.
Cr Curry is the founder and Chair of Bayside Women's Shelter and is a university educator with a PhD and MEd. She has taught at two local High Schools, was president of a local Primary school P&C and local sporting volunteer.
Cr Curry congratulated all councillors, re-elected and new.
"Representing our community is a privilege and an honour," she said.
"I look forward to working with each of you and delivering on the expectations of our entire Bayside Council community.
"Our community has voted and I would like to thank them for the trust they have placed in all of us.
"The message from the community during the last election was clear, they want a council that is inclusive, proactive, responsive and accountable."