Wollongong council's corruption scandal may have rocked the city to its foundations, but a year later it seems many residents have either forgiven or forgotten.
An exclusive Mercury/IRIS poll has revealed 47 per cent of residents in the Wollongong Local Government Area wanted elected councillors to run the city, and almost 70 per cent of those wanted them returned within 12 months.
However, another 40 per cent found it hard to leave the taint of corruption behind, preferring the leadership of the council's three administrators.
EXCLUSIVE POLL: See the results [PDF]"Overall, as a city, we're still very split in terms of representation. We're quite divided," said Illawarra Regional Information Service (IRIS) CEO Simon Pomfret.
"Given the history of what happened, I thought we would have been stronger for the administrators.
"It appears people have got short memories. Or they're more forgiving," the IRIS chief said.
Former lord mayor Alex Darling believed the result reflected empathy for the fact that not all councillors were involved in the scandal.
"Only four people did the wrong thing - and nine of us paid the price. I think there's a bit of a sympathetic vote for that," Mr Darling said.
The telephone poll of 300 residents was conducted in March, 12 months after the council's sacking.
Wollongong's central suburbs (61 per cent) and southern suburbs (50 per cent) were more supportive of a democratically elected council than those of the north (37 per cent).
"The north was an area argued to be neglected by Wollongong council, and it's the area that pays the highest rates," Mr Pomfret said.
"The more blue collar (the suburb), the more they wanted to be more democratic and have a right to say things."
Thirty per cent of those supporting councillor representation wanted the system returned immediately and 39 per cent within 12 months.
Mr Darling believed the majority would get their wish.
"It would not surprise me if, within six months, they said they'd completed their mission and handed it back to the council," he said.
"The administrators have been good for the city. They've certainly sorted things out.
"But the dismissal was slightly unfair, as much as it was serious ... It's time we had a council."
Illawarra Business Chamber president Les Dion said while the administrators were weeding out corruption, they were not providing leadership at a time when the city needed it most.
"There are too many people knocking on our door with concerns that nothing is happening.
"We are in dire need of leadership and they are letting us down.
"If the problems of concern are addressed, the sooner the council returns the better."
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