A push to have Cr Speedie serve a one-year term was voted down 4-3, with councillors arguing it was important there was continuity in leadership given the looming departure of chief executive Patience Harrington. 

For the first time since 2012, the council will have a deputy mayor with Kat Bennett elected 4-3 to the position after a contest with Libby Hall.

Councillor Ron Mildren was nominated by colleague Tim Quilty to be mayor, but declined on the basis of work commitments.

That saw Cr Speedie take the job without a contest.

Having been mayor since 2015, Cr Speedie is set to join former colleague Mark Byatt as the only leader of Wodonga to serve over six unbroken years.

“I’m absolutely honoured, it’s a huge role,” Cr Speedie told The Border Mail after her election.

“The experience of being on council for so long, particularly around the recruitment of the CEO is going to be really important, we’ve got some huge major projects a long way down the track and under way, so it’s important to have some continuity in that.”

Cr Speedie scorched talk that she would be a candidate in Indi at next year’s federal election.

“You’re the first reporter to actually ask me the question, everybody’s reported it and never asked me – the answer is no, I’ve got no interest in standing,” she said.

“I am not standing for another level of politics.”

Cr Speedie said although her personal circumstances had changed she felt it was important to stay as mayor.

Asked how she reflected on her past 12 months as mayor, which have seen the council dogged by a waste fee scandal and anger at a swimming pools contract, Cr Speedie was pragmatic.

“I don’t think there’s a week that goes by that something doesn’t crop up that you have to deal with and it is about staying true to the vision for the city, it’s about making sure that you follow due process and that you continue to call our councillors in to work as a team,” she said.

Cr Bennett said the move to reinstate a deputy mayor showed the existing model of sharing such duties among councillors was not working.

She said it reflected succession planning and matching neighbouring councils.

Cr Bennett confirmed she had mayoral ambitions but said it made sense for Cr Speedie to stay in the role.

“I’ve seen Anna work a room like no-one else, her networks I’m sure get Wodonga funding and projects,” Cr Bennett said.

Albury mayor Kevin Mack was in the gallery to witness Monday morning’s votes.