Just two of the five wards will be contested with Simon Tol nominating to contest David Clark in Ercildoune Ward, while Jo Dunlop will be head-to-head with Ron Eason in Avoca Ward.

Of the two new candidates who have nominated, Ms Dunlop says her passion revolves around thriving communities with an emphasis on mental health, wellbeing, sustainable tourism and job opportunities for the community.

"This can be achieved with a council that's more transparent and accountable to the community it serves," she says in her election notes to the VEC.

"My husband and I have run two successful businesses from Avoca, servicing Victoria and New South Wales, I understand the challenges in running a commercial enterprise in rural Victoria.

"As a volunteer for 25 years I also have direct knowledge and understanding of a broad range of community concerns and expectations."

Mr Tol says his goal is to make the Pyrnees Shire the "envy of all other shires".

"To create a shire that the people are proud of, a shire that is transparent and accountable and a shire that strives to makes good strategic plans for future growth, supportive of public initiatives, productive and efficient," he says.

"My background in business, included employing, managing and training large numbers of staff, meeting deadlines, working to budgets and keeping projects on track has giving me the skills to get things done - on time, on budget and delivered in a safe, non discriminative environment."

Councillors Robert Vance, Tanya Kehoe and Damian Ferrari will all be re-elected unopposed.

None of the councillors facing a battle for re-election say they are endorsed by, or connected to other political parties.

Ballots have been mailed out this week and residents must fill them in and return them by close of business on October 23. The new council will be sworn in in November.

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