John Dorahy.
WOLLONGONG
John Dorahy and David Brown are expected to go head-to-head in tonight's Wollongong City Council deputy lord mayoral election in a rematch of last year's controversial vote.
David Brown won the role in 2011 after independent councillor Greg Petty refused to cast a vote, eventually forcing the winner's name to be drawn out of a hat to break the 6-all voting deadlock.
Cr Petty yesterday ruled out a repeat of last year, saying he would support Cr Dorahy in tonight's vote, believing Cr Brown had already completed his one year term.
It is understood three of the four Liberal councillors had ambitions for the role in the lead up to tonight's vote, with Cr Dorahy only confirmed as the party's candidate in recent days.
He said he was ready for a rematch against Cr Brown and hoped other councillors would back a previous agreement that the role would be "rotational".
However, Cr Brown said he had been approached by several councillors to throw his hat into the ring for a second year.
He said the initial 12 months had involved an induction period, and he would like to serve a full year in the role now the council was "fully operating".
An important part of the role was being "available", Cr Brown said, as the position took a fair amount of time to do properly.
"I'm flexible with my employment at the moment so that's a real consideration," he said, adding he had filled in for Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery for about six weeks in the past 12 months.
"It's quite difficult to do if you're a 9-5 worker."
But Cr Dorahy, who juggles a full-time job and board commitments on Venues NSW and IRIS with his councillor duties, said he was up to the task.
"It won't be an issue, my work is flexible enough."
Meantime, councillors will also vote tonight on proposed changes to the council's organisational structure.
Under the changes, the infrastructure department would be split into two - one to focus on planning and strategy and the other on detailed design and delivery of projects.
The changes reflect a continued focus on upgrading infrastructure, a new project delivery division, and the roll-out of new amenities and services in West Dapto, according to a staff report to councillors.
