THERE'S speculation Tamworth deputy mayor Phil Betts will face a challenge for his job this month.
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The council will hold a vote for the job at the next ordinary meeting.
Cr Betts confirmed he wanted to hold on to the deputy posting, but Juanita Wilson was looming as a potential challenger.
Cr Wilson didn't rule out a tilt when contacted by the Leader.
It appears she could have a clear run to take on Cr Betts, as last year's deputy candidates, Jim Maxwell and Mark Rodda, have ruled out another contest.
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This will be the last mayoral vote before the region goes back to the polls for the 2020 council elections.
Cr Betts said he "still had something to contribute" in the role of deputy mayor.
He also confirmed his council career wasn't done and he had intentions to run in next year's council election.
If successful, this would take Cr Betts' stint on the council into its fourth decade.
He was first elected to Parry Shire Council in 1991, or "when Noah stepped off the ark", he joked.
"Twenty-four hours is a long time in politics, as the old adage goes," he said.
"But at this stage, I will be standing for next four-year term."
He said he wasn't aware of any potential challengers for the deputy role.
Cr Wilson was elected to Tamworth Regional Council in 2008 and also served one stint on Tamworth City Council.
Cr Betts will probably have the support of councillors Glenn Inglis, Russell Webb and mayor Col Murray.
Cr Maxwell said he planned to support the incumbent deputy after he duked it out with Cr Betts for the job last year.
"I had my one go and I'm happy with the result," Cr Maxwell.
He lost the 2018 vote five votes to four after he was nominated for the role by Helen Tickle.
The former Manilla mayor also said he intended to stand for another term on council.
There will be no vote for the top job this year, because mayoral votes occur biennially.
Cr Murray has previously said he intended to stand down from the council ahead of the 2020 election, bringing a decade-long run as mayor to an end.
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
