Labor is calling for the byelection to replace former Newcastle lord mayor Jeff McCloy to be run by the NSW Electoral Commission and not by a private company, warning the latter option could cost more than $600,000.
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It also wants the lord mayoral byelection to be held on October 25 – the same day as byelections for the state seats of Newcastle and Charlestown prompted by the resignation from Parliament of former Liberal MPs Tim Owen and Andrew Cornwell.
It is understood Newcastle Council general manager Ken Gouldthorp has expressed the view that the byelection should be run for the council by a private company, which is possible under 2011 changes to the Local Government Act.
Mr Gouldthorp was appointed by Mr McCloy, a property developer who resigned as lord mayor after revelations at the Independent Commission Against Corruption that he gave $10,000 each in cash to Mr Owen and Mr Cornwell that was used in their successful 2011 election campaigns.
Property developers have been banned from making donations to NSW election campaigns since late 2009.
Newcastle Labor councillor and likely lord mayoral candidate Nuatali Nelmes will move a motion next week that the byelection be run by the NSW Electoral Commission on October 25.
She said the November 2012 lord mayoral election, run for the council by a private company, cost $641,106.
"The people of Newcastle have already been put through enough expense and inconvenience from the resignations of Tim Owen, Andrew Cornwell and Jeff McCloy,'' Cr Nelmes said.
Cr Nelmes said engaging a private firm to run the byelection would allow Mr Gouldthorp to set the date. She felt there needs to be "a huge separation" between the council and the election following the ICAC revelations about Mr McCloy.
The ICAC inquiry into alleged illegal political donations, Operation Spicer, resumes on Thursday.
