JOHN Burt is almost certain to become Ballarat’s new mayor.
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Councillor Burt received the unofficial backing of fellow City of Ballarat councillors during an informal meeting yesterday.
He will be sworn in as mayor on Thursday, with councillor Samantha McIntosh to be voted in as deputy mayor.
The Ballarat Specialist School principal will become the first new councillor to immediately step up to the mayoral position since the 1995 council amalgamations.
The council vote on the mayor was originally scheduled to take place on November 13 – the night before the first ordinary meeting with the new council.
However, the meeting has now been brought forward to Thursday, November 8.
Councillor Burt said it was a decision that needed to be made sooner rather than later. He said he was confident he would be able to handle his commitment as both Ballarat Specialist School principal and mayor of the City of Ballarat.
“I’m confident it can be done. Things are in place at the school so it can function, like things are in place at council,” Cr Burt said.
“We have the potential to be one of the best teams council has ever seen. I realise fully the task at hand and I accept the responsibility.
“The feeling was a decision needed to be made as quickly as possible, we couldn’t afford to leave it much longer.”
Councillor Des Hudson had put his hand up for the job, while councillors McIntosh and John Philips were also said to be considering nomination.
Councillor Burt, a Liberal Party member, was last week accused of being involved in a bloc voting situation, where Liberal councillors were said to have agreed to vote in one of their own political party members. The allegations, from an unnamed senior Labor Party member, were refuted by Cr Burt.
patrick.nolan@thecourier.com.au