Labor may have lost the federal election but the party's candidate for deputy lord mayor of Wollongong, Chris Connor, won the role at last night's council meeting.
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Cr Connor won the position, taking over from incumbent John Dorahy, after an 8-4 vote at last night's Wollongong City Council meeting.
He will take on the role for the next 12 months.
Cr Connor won the show-of-hands election after three rounds of voting, which excluded other contenders: Liberal councillor Leigh Colacino, Greens councillor Jill Merrin and independent Greg Petty.
In the last round, facing Cr Petty, Cr Connor was supported by a clear majority including fellow Labor councillors Janice Kershaw, Ann Martin and David Brown; Greens councillor George Takacs; Liberals Bede Crasnich and Cr Colacino; and lord mayor Gordon Bradbery.
Cr Merrin, who had hoped to see the deputy position change into Green hands, was knocked out in round one of voting.
She and Cr Petty received only two votes each and she lost a later hat draw to decide who would proceed.
Cr Colacino lost the second round, which was also decided by a hat draw, leaving a final vote between Cr Connor and Cr Petty.
After the voting, Lord Mayor Bradbery publicly thanked Cr Dorahy for his service.
The deputy lord mayor's role is to fill in for the lord mayor.
Note: There was a technical hitch with the poll. Please recast your vote for it to be counted.
