The former mayor and Rutherglen resident yesterday confirmed his desire to again take out the top job after leading the poll with 1188 first-preference votes.

“It’s important that the council feels confident in their leadership,” Cr Graham said.

“With four new people on board and three old hands being returned, I’ll certainly offer myself up and hopefully I’ll be successful.”

Outgoing mayor Vic Issell remained coy about his intentions but agreed with Cr Graham that one of the three incumbents re-elected should lead the new council for the first year.

Chiltern resident Barb Murdoch is the other councillor who has been returned.

Cr Murdoch said she had to weigh up the pros and cons before making her decision to nominate today.

Newly elected councillor and former policeman Bernard Gaffney wouldn’t entirely rule out the head job but said it was “highly unlikely” he’d put his name forward.

Kiewa Valley teacher and first-time councillor Peter Croucher was the second candidate elected after Cr Graham, with 1087 first-preference votes.

Mr Croucher and Mr Gaffney join Beechworth’s Larry Goldsworthy, a police sergeant stationed at Wodonga, and Indigo Valley’s Alison Pockley, who took leave from her position with Indigo Shire to contest the poll, as council’s fresh faces.