Peter Cox said it was a surreal feeling when he woke up as City of Greater Bendigo mayor-elect on Thursday morning but sensed the big opportunity in taking on the top job.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Whipstick Ward councillor was elected in a closed doors meeting at Bendigo Town Hall on Wednesday night.
"It's a big opportunity to get further involved in the Bendigo community and is certainly a great honour to be elected," Cr Cox said.
"I'm looking forward to engaging the wider community and a whole range of issues in the next 12 months."
Cr Cox and outgoing mayor Cr Barry Lyons were the only two councillors to nominate.
Each nominated councillor got 10 minutes to put forward his case for the next 12 months before all councillors voted in a secret ballot.
Cr Cox said he considered his nomination over the weekend.
"A number of councillors got in touch with me and indicated their support," he said.
“Together we aspire to be Australia’s most liveable regional city and the decisions we make over the next year will help to shape our success in this regard.
“Top priorities for the next 12 months include implementing the Residential Development Strategy and finalising the Integrated Transport and Land Use Strategy.”
James Williams considered nominating but decided against it.
"I realised Peter had the numbers and the chance. It's always a numbers game and I had to support Peter," he said.
Peter is a great, long-serving candidate and deserves a chance.
"Barry has done a fantastic job and I am looking forward to some exciting times ahead.
"A lot is happening and Peter is an honest person who speaks his mind. He will do a great job."
Cr Lyons will remain mayor until a ceremony on November 11 when Cr Cox is expected to be officially.
"There's still another fortnight to go and there's a lot of issues I'm looking forward to engaging," Cr Cox said.
Cr Cox has been a councillor with the City of Greater Bendigo for six years. He was elected as a Whipstick Ward councillor in 2012 and will represent the ward until 2016.
He also served as a councillor with the former City of Hawthorn council in th 1970s and in 2008 received the Eaglehawk Community Service Award. In 2013 Cr Cox received the Paul HArris Fellow, Rotary's highest individual award.
