ALBURY mayor Henk van de Ven has preferenced Greens' candidate Amanda Cohn ahead of two loyal supporters of the outgoing council.
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Cr van de Ven is also preferencing independent Bert Eastoe ahead of his mayoral predecessor, Cr Kevin Mack and Cr Darren Cameron.
The mayor said the preference arrangement wasn't a snub to Cr Mack and Cr Cameron, but an attempt to get some fresh blood on council.
Cr Mack and Cr Cameron are fourth and fifth respectively on Cr van de Ven's "above the line" preferred voting order.
"I've made a decision on whether Kevin and Darren would get re-elected and I think they will," Cr van de Ven said.
"I do have some green credentials as far as my work on council goes, but I don't agree with a lot of Greens' policies.
"In fact I don't like the Greens at all, but for the sake of diversity and the fact we've got a young person and a woman standing I've gone that way."
Cr Mack and Cr Cameron have preferenced Cr van de Ven fourth and third respectively "above the line".
Cr van de Ven's preferences have stunned Cr Cameron.
"It beggars belief that business people like Henk van de Ven and Helen Spittal would prefer the Greens on council above independents like Kevin Mack or even myself," he said.
Cr Mack said he was also surprised by the approach.
"I was disappointed to start with, but his logic is he wants new blood on council and I can't argue with that," he said.
Pre-poll voting in the Albury election is underway with the Greens preferencing Cr David Thurley's ticket second ahead of Cr Mack, Cr van de Ven and Cr Cameron.
Cr Thurley has not done any preference deals.
Cr Alice Glachan's preferences "below the line" don't include one member of the existing council aside from running mate Cr Graham Docksey.