Armidale Regional Council is about to bring itself into line with the rest of NSW's local government organisations when it holds a mayoral election at its September Monthly Meeting.
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Because of the amalgamation timing, members of this council were only elected for three years, not the usual four.
It meant the first mayoral term was the usual two years, but cut the second term back to a shorter one year. When Armidale Councillors elect the Mayor this September, that person will need to run again in September 2020, if they wish to hold that position.
Mayor Simon Murray said he did not know what other Councillors were going to put their hands up for the position at this stage.
"I have made it quite clear that I will put my hand up for that period because there is a caretaker mode towards the end of next year. So, really it's not a full one year term of being the mayor," he said.
Cr Murray said he had yet to make a decision on whether he would run for council again in the 2020 Local Government Elections.
He thought the 2020 council would need to maintain the progress made on roads, bridges etc. by the current council.
"Hopefully it will have rained before then, but if it hasn't, the new council is really going to have to maintain the drought preparedness, getting people to consume less water," he said.
"Hopefully during the next council period there will be the issue of raising Malpas Dam wall, and the continuation of the business park at the airport is going to be a big one.
"Still to pursue are the issues at the airport that have been identified by this council and hopefully the new council will continue the momentum in that direction."
Cr Murray said Armidale Regional Council needed to be inclusive and supportive of the whole region, but admitted it was going to be tough.
"Let's not have all the development just in Armidale. Let's look at all the other regional areas we have and make sure they're supported," he said.
"I would hope there is going to be a new council that wants to take this region ahead, form good relationships with their neighbours.
"It would be really nice if we had a broad cross section of people putting their hand up and being elected. When I say broad cross section I mean of skill sets and of people, so that we get a diversity of views."
