COUNCILLOR Les McPhee has been voted in as mayor of Swan Hill Rural City Council for the third time in the last four years.
Council’s Lakes Ward representative defeated his only contestant, Cr Gary Norton, in the 2015/16 Swan Hill Rural City Council mayoral election, five votes to two, at a statutory council meeting Tuesday afternoon at Swan Hill Town Hall.
The win returns Cr McPhee into the role after having already been mayor between 2012 and 2014, with Cr Michael Adamson taking over the reigns over the last 12 months.
Cr McPhee said he was honoured to be able to serve again as mayor.
“Having previously served as mayor, I hope I bring some insight into the role including the challenges facing the municipality as we head into 2016, but also the terrific opportunities,” he said.
“It’s definitely a busy time for council, with a number of major projects currently underway, two of which are due for completion by the end of this month – the Heartbeat of the Murray experience at the Pioneer Settlement and the state-of-the-art dragstrip at Chisholm Reserve.
“Cr Adamson has seen the progression of these huge projects during his time as mayor and has done an outstanding job in taking on the challenges of the role.”
Cr John Katis from the Robinvale Ward was returned as deputy mayor.
During the meeting, council also appointed a new acting chief executive officer, Ian Couper, following the shock resignation of former CEO Dean Miller last month.
Mr Couper will begin in the role from this Thursday.
