The former Greens party member will challenge Liberal incumbent Bill Tilley in the Wodonga-centred seat of Benambra.

It will be the second time Ms O’Connor has been on a ballot paper with Mr Tilley.

In 2010 as a Green she attracted 11 per cent of the vote when Mr Tilley won his second term.

On Friday, Ms O’Connor said she was “not confirming or not denying” her candidacy.

However, a campaign website jennyforbenambra.com was live on Friday.

On it Ms O’Connor states: “I’ve decided to run because I need to take our fight to Melbourne. 

“It took ten years to get the funding that the Beechworth Secondary College needed, our local dairy processing jobs are being taken from our communities, and so is our water.

“As an independent candidate I’ll be standing up for Benambra.” 

Ms O’Connor also cites transport services, tackling climate change and tourism as key concerns on her website.

She told The Border Mail she hopes to remain mayor until October 30 when an election for the job she has held for the past two years is held.

Ms O’Connor is drawn to run because she believes Benambra is ignored due to it being a Liberal stronghold.

“I think it’s time Benambra had strong representation so whether it’s me or someone else it’s time for a change,” she said.

“We’re missing out on a lot of opportunities because it’s a safe seat.”

Mr Tilley noted Ms O’Connor’s move pragmatically. 

“This is democracy at work – people have a right to put their name in the ring,” he said.

“The fact is no one owns the seat of Benambra – you have to work for it and I’m proud of what I have achieved in government and from opposition.”

Mr Tilley said $160 million had been spent in Benambra from 2010 to 2014 when the Coalition was in power.  

“In the past 12 months in opposition I have raised the profile of a power dispute that stopped people moving into new homes; the dog’s breakfast that is McKoy Street; the plague proportions of deer,” he said.

Ms O’Connor’s entry means there will be two independent candidates vying for Benambra, with Border Trust board member Jacqui Hawkins the other.

“I haven’t looked at the prospects if someone else stands (as an independent),” Ms Hawkins said.

“I’m not Jenny O’Connor.”

Labor candidate for Benambra Mark Tait said Ms O’Connor “would be a strong candidate because she has been in the political arena before and as an independent I think she would be a strong opponent”.

Ms O’Connor won’t be the only North East mayor standing as an independent in the Victorian election.

Benalla mayor for the past two years Don Firth announced last month he would be doing the same in the seat of Euroa, held by Nationals MP Steph Ryan.