Their comments came in the wake of a Fairfax report, which questioned consultant and employment appointments made by former council chief executive officer Richard Hancock and the selection of

current chief executive officer Anthony Schinck.

The report revealed several people who had worked with Mr Hancock at other municipalities were then awarded senior roles at Ballarat council, including Mr Schinck.

South ward candidate David Senior said the council should, as a final act before the election of a new council, suspend Mr Schinck while a "totally independent inquiry'' took place.

Mr Senior suggested the police or possibly the ombudman's office could conduct an investigation.

The recent investigation into the council ordered by Local Government Minister Richard Wynne was carried out by accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The report resulted in charges against councillors David Vendy and Gary Anderson which relate to failure to disclose business interests.

Central ward candidate Judy Verlin said the city's image had been tarnished by the recent reports and if elected she would ask the State Government to widen the investigation into the council to include

senior appointments.

Ms Verlin said council processes should be examined before Mr Schinck was asked to stand down.

North ward candidate Samantha McIntosh said Mr Schinck should step aside while police investigated the council.

"What we don't want to see is these sorts of headlines making national headlines,'' she said.

Fellow north ward candidate Noel Perry said the Fairfax report raised more questions and the investigation ordered by Mr Wynne may have had terms of reference that were too restrictive.

Another north ward candidate, Dianne Hadden, said the report for the State Government should have been done by a lawyer, possibly a retired judge, to ensure it was "full, frank and independent''.

Mr Schinck declined to comment on the latest Fairfax report.