Wollongong's newly elected deputy lord mayor John Dorahy.
Liberal councillor John Dorahy has been elected deputy lord mayor of Wollongong for the next 12 months.
Cr Dorahy beat incumbent deputy lord mayor David Brown in a narrow 7-6 vote at last night’s Wollongong City Council meeting.
Cr Dorahy won the ''show of hands'' election after independent councillor Greg Petty - who controversially refused to vote last year, forcing the winner to be drawn out of a hat - raised his hand in favour of Cr Dorahy after a brief pause.
Cr Dorahy’s other supporters were fellow Liberals Leigh Colacino, Bede Crasnich and Michelle Blicavs, independent Vicki Curran and Greens councillors Jill Merrin.
Labor councillors Janice Kershaw, Ann Martin and Chris Connor joined Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery and Greens councillor George Takacs in voting for Cr Brown.
The two men were joined by Vicki Curran, Jill Merrin and Greg Petty in nominating for the role.
Cr Petty was knocked out in round one of voting, after he and Cr Curran received only one vote each and he lost a subsequent hat draw for who would proceed in the race.
Cr Merrin lost the second round and Cr Curran the third, leaving a final vote between Cr Dorahy and Cr Brown.
At the conclusion of voting, Cr Bradbery publicly thanked Cr Brown for his 12 months of service.
‘‘You have performed your duties with great skills and great wit, and you did so with grace, intelligence and capabilities,’’ he said.
‘‘You’ve handled the situation well, and represented the city well when you took on my tasks.
‘‘I wish to thank you; we’re very fortunate to have you as a councillor here.’’
The deputy lord mayor’s role is to fill in for the lord mayor when he is away on holidays, sick or out of the city on business.
Cr Brown has presided over two council meetings in the past year and carried out lord mayoral duties for about five weeks.
Councillors will vote again on the position in 12 months.
THE FINAL VOTE
For John Dorahy
John Dorahy
Michelle Blicavs
Bede Crasnich
Leigh Colacino
Vicki Curran
Greg Petty
Jill Merrin
For David Brown
David Brown
Janice Kershaw
Chris Connor
Ann Martin
Gordon Bradbery
George Takacs