Councillors will vote to officially elect the city’s leaders on Monday night, with Crs Belinda Coates and Mark Harris also nominating for the top job.

Cr McIntosh appears to have secured at least the minimum five of nine votes needed ahead of the election.

She said she would continue advocating for Ballarat no matter the meeting’s outcome.

“I have been on council for nine years and my focus is on Ballarat and the region, making sure we can deliver to a growing population,” she said.

“My focus for council is to deliver the requirements of a growing Ballarat, look after what we have got, and being aware of the importance of the heritage built form.

Both the other two nominees said they thought it was unlikely they would win Monday night’s vote.

Cr Harris said it appeared council would likely split with at least five votes in favour of Cr McIntosh, and three possibly voting for Cr Coates.

“I would prefer to nominate, because I don’t want to vote with either of those blocks,” he said.

“I imagine Cr McIntosh will get five, Cr Coates the rest, and I will get my own vote.”

Cr Harris also said although he did not expect to win, it was important for the community to know who had put their hand up to run ahead of the vote.

Cr Coates said she thought Ballarat needed bolder and more inclusive leadership.

“I am across the big ticket items, in particular some that are very important for Ballarat,” she said.

“Waste to energy and renewables are an area that are close to me and I have been a strong advocate on that for a number of years.”

Nominations for the leadership position closed at 5pm on Wednesday.

The fight for the deputy-mayor position has has been less certain than the top role.

Three councillors at least are expected to nominate, including Crs Amy Johnson and Daniel Moloney.

Cr Harris will also nominate, assuming he is unsuccessful for the mayor position.

Cr Moloney said he wanted a greater lobbying role for Ballarat City.

“I have been able to work on a few lobbying projects that I have had traction on and I want to take that to the next level,” he said.

“Particularly at the railway station, a bus network plan, and more funding.”

“There are other projects we have been lobbying for strongly as well,” Cr Moloney said.

He also said he wanted ensure construction for a bus terminal at the railway precinct was started before currently planned.

If none of the three nominees can claim at least five votes, the councillor with the lowest number will be eliminated and a second vote taken.

In the event of a tie, a name is drawn from a hat to fill the position.

However any of the councillors can also withdraw their name before the vote if they do not think they have support.

Cr Amy Johnson said she would consider such a move if it was clear she did not have the numbers to win a vote.

“I’ve been a councillor for five years now and would love the opportunity to step up into the role of deputy-mayor,” she said.

Cr Johnson also said she would continue to represent residents on a number of issues.

“If successful in securing the role, I’ll continue to advocate strongly on behalf of residents on issues such as increasing CBD car parking, reducing council debt and improving communications with residents.”

Cr Jim Rinaldi said he would most likely back the current mayor to return to the role because of the “wonderful” job she had done in the last 12 months.

“I think Cr McIntosh will get the nod, but nothing is certain,” he said.

“She has done an extraordinary job in a difficult time, and I am certainly happy to support her for the next term.

“The role of mayor is now extremely full time.”