IN a six to three vote Stuart Freudenstein and John Drum were elected to the positions of mayor and deputy mayor at a special meeting of Young Shire Council on Wednesday.

The new leadership team takes over from Gerry Bailey and John McGregor, and hold the position for the next 12 months.

Stuart Freudenstein said he was honoured to be elected to the position of mayor of a town like Young and said he would endeavour to reach the standard of mayoral excellence set by former incumbents, Gerry Bailey and John Walker.

The mayoral election was a three way contest between the successful contender Stuart Freudenstein, John Walker and Sandy Freudenstein. A rethink by John Drum saw him only stand for the deputy position. though earlier announcing his intention to seek the higher office.

General manager Peter Vlatko enforced a two ballot process in line with local government meeting regulations, despite a challenge from former mayor Gerry Bailey who chaired the mayor election and sought a first pastthe post decision.

Mr Vlatko ruled that rather than the person with the clear majority winning outright, the lowest of three candidates would be excluded and a second vote taken.

Sandy Freudenstein was eliminated in the first ballot for the mayor’s job, with the second ballot seeing Stuart Freudenstein win with six votes to John Walker’s three.

The first mayoral ballot, revealed on request from Sandy Freudenstein, had Stuart Freudenstein five votes, John Walker two votes and Sandy Freudenstein one vote.

John Drum, John Walker and Sandy Freudenstein nominated for deputy mayor, with the votes allocated in the first ballot five, two and one respectively.

A second ballot had John Drum the winner with six votes and John Walker gaining three votes.

The new deputy mayor said both he and the new mayor were on trial, as were all councillors, and predicted the new council would have success if everyone worked as a team.

Retiring deputy mayor John McGregor set himself up in a mentor role by seeking leave to speak and offering all councillors, including the three new members, any assistance they required at any time, as he had “been on council so long.”