Cr Ben Taylor has moved into prime position to occupy the role, with the formal vote to be held next week.

Three more councillors confirmed to The Courier they would support his bid for the role, meaning five of the city's nine elected representatives have now backed him on the record.

Unless there are late changes of mind, it would mean Cr Taylor will gain the required majority in the first round of voting at the special council meeting on Monday night. He would then replace the current mayor Samantha McIntosh for the final 12 months of this council's four-year term.

Crs Des Hudson, Daniel Moloney and Belinda Coates all declared their position on Thursday afternoon, adding to Cr Amy Johnson's previously announced support for Cr Taylor.

Cr Hudson was the first to confirm his stance, saying he was withdrawing from the race to back Cr Taylor.

"It is time for a fresh face to finish this council's term," Cr Hudson told The Courier.

"Cr McIntosh has represented the city very well and has done a lot over that time in her representation."

"This is about giving someone else an opportunity to lead the city for this last 12 months."

It was an unexpected move for Cr Hudson, a Labor Party member, to back Cr Taylor, who stood as the Liberal Party candidate for the seat of Buninyong in the 2014 state party elections.

However, Cr Hudson said he decided to put his own political ambitions to one side.

"Cr Taylor will fulfil the role with honesty and integrity," he said. "He is passionate about the city and is across all the issues."

"I have confidence he will uphold the office of mayor with integrity.

"What's important is that the community sees that the circus around seven nominations has come to a close and it is time to move on."

Cr Moloney meanwhile also confirmed he would drop out of the race and joined Cr Hudson in announcing his support for Cr Taylor.

He said he was disappointed not to run but that, as a Labor Party member, the numbers would not stack up in a council where the Liberal Party holds the critical mass.

There are three Liberal Party members on council: Crs McIntosh, Johnson and Taylor. Two of the councillors unaffiliated to political parties, Crs Grant Tillett and Jim Rinaldi, have traditionally remained loyal to the present mayor, who has been in the post for the past three years.

The decision of Crs Tillett and Rinaldi to stand in the mayoral race baffled many town hall observers.

"This has always been a battle between Sam and Ben," said Cr Moloney. "It's been pretty disruptive for everyone and we need to put that to an end and dust off and get back to work."

He said the Liberal Party had controlled the numbers for the mayoral position in this current council.

"Anyone who says there has not been a bloc [for mayor] is being less than truthful," said Cr Moloney, who described his decision to withdraw as a pragmatic one.

"It only requires some basic maths. I am keen to see change."

Asked why he would support Cr Taylor over the current mayor, Cr Moloney said: "I don't think we are being listened to any more."

Cr Coates later also said she would cast her vote behind Cr Taylor. She said there was a mood for change, and was also concerned that if a decisive move was not made, there could be a three-way split between councillors. Earlier this week, the possibility of eliminating one councillor by lot was also being discussed.

Providing there are no late changes of heart, there are now five councillors nominally left in the race: Crs Mark Harris, McIntosh, Rinaldi, Tillett and Taylor.

The final vote takes place at a special council meeting next Monday (October 28).

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