BENALLA’S youngest councillor is now the city’s mayor.
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Justin King was elected into the top job on Wednesday night, just two years after being voted onto the council.
Cr King, 28, said he was honoured to take on the role and was looking forward to building on the groundwork laid by previous mayors, councillors and staff under past chief executives and present boss Tony McIlroy.
“I want to help continue this work in a way that emphasises growth and change while retaining the unique characteristics of Benalla Rural City and allowing for new and exciting challenges for our community,” he said.
“I will work to provide the community with the services it wants, it needs and can be proud of.”
Cr King quit his job to spend 12 months on the campaign trail leading up to the October, 2012, poll.
The sacrifice was worth it, as he was strongest performer of the nine Benalla Council candidates in securing 1916 first-preference votes.
That represented 22 per cent of the primary vote.
Cr King worked with the unemployed for about five years before beginning his campaign.
Yesterday he thanked outgoing mayor Barbara Alexander for her two years in the job.
“Cr Alexander has been a passionate and dedicated lobbyist on behalf of this community and has been an excellent community advocate,” he said.
Cr Alexander said she wished Cr King all the best as her replacement.
“I know that Benalla is in good hands and he will go forward from strength to strength,” she said.
Cr King, 28, will continue to work part-time in his role with the Personnel Group while he carries out his new role.