FORMER Indigo Shire mayor Ali Pockley has not ruled out a return to local government in the wake of the shock death of Cr Don Chambers.
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The Victorian Electoral Commission confirmed on Tuesday a countback of votes from the 2012 election would be held to determine a replacement for Cr Chambers, who suffered a heart attack and died in Rome at the weekend.
Ms Pockley, a former mayor and deputy mayor, came ninth in the final list of voting three years ago.
She polled 530 first preference votes with another former mayor Vic Issell gaining 554 votes.
Mr Issell couldn't be contacted for comment on Tuesday.
Cr Chambers topped the count with 1300 votes from Cr Peter Croucher on 1139.
A total of 17 candidates contested the 2012 with Ms Pockley presently the Yackandandah Community Centre manager.
"It is three years down the track since I was last on council and things have changed substanially," she said.
"There was some conjecture being so close to the next election, which is just over a year away, they may not have to select another candidate.
"I would certainly consider it, absolutely.
"I will wait and see if I get a call and decide from there."
I will wait and see if I get a call and decide from there
- Ali Pockley
Ms Pockley was mayor in 2010 and 2011 and previously deputy mayor after first being elected in 2008.
She lives in the Indigo Valley.
The VEC confirmed the countback would take place at The Pines, Beechworth, at noon on November 17.
In a countback only the ballot papers that elected the candidate who left office are used.
The last North-East council to require a countback was Wangaratta at the height of its governance dramas two years ago.
Lisa McInerney quit council and the first count-back winner, former mayor Anthony Griffiths, knocked back the chance to return.
Col McLounan won the second countback, but was only in office for three months when Local Government minister Jeanette Powell sacked the council and replaced it with three administrators.
Elections will be held in all North-East councils in November next year.