Tamworth Regional Council mayor and deputy mayor elections: councillors vote at Tuesday's meeting after all council elections postponed

Both Tamworth Regional Council mayor Col Murray and deputy mayor Phil Betts have confirmed they will stand for the top jobs until the next elections in 2021.

Despite plans to retire before the outbreak of COVID-19, Cr Murray said he would be happy to provide some leadership stability in the crisis.

"I don't want to be presumptuous but I think it is something the fellow councillors would consider," he said.

"I think the council has worked very effectively, Cr Betts has been a good deputy and he has worked hard - he's certainly been a good lieutenant for me.

"I have made it very clear this is my last term, I understand and accept another year has been added for obvious reasons but I won't be seeking another term after that."

Residents were supposed to head to the ballot box this month to elect an entirely new council, but the pandemic saw them officially postponed until September 4, 2021.

It's unclear whether there will be any challengers for the deputy mayoral position at this stage, and the vote for the mayor and deputy positions will most likely be held by secret ballot.

Cr Phil Betts confirmed he would put his hand up for deputy again.

"I think there's a good, stable environment going in the COVID-19 crisis and Cr Murray has the support of the council which is very important going through this particular phase and bouncing out of the crisis," he said.

Former deputy mayor Helen Tickle said she would not have a crack, as did councillors Jim Maxwell, Russell Webb, Charles Impy and Mark Rodda.

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At the next elections, Cr Rodda said he'd like to see Tamworth have a popularly elected mayor.

"I'm a real believer in letting the people decide who their mayor should be, I would like it to be modernised for the people to decide by popular vote every four years," he said.

"Residents look at our council and think it's an old boys club, that's why I think it would be good to modernise the way we select our mayor."

The Leader contacted councillors Juanita Wilson and Glenn Inglis for comment on the council elections, but did not receive a response before this article went to press.