Job and family demands prompted his move with his Warby ward seat to be contested by past mayor Irene Grant, Glenrowan Improvers president Helen Senior and Greta Valley Landcare president Rho Fry.

Councillor Harvey Benton is guaranteed a place on council after he was the sole nominee for North ward.

The South ward position will be contested by incumbent Harry Bussell and Suz Christison, Jennifer Garrett and David Lawrence.

The contenders for the four City ward seats are mayor Dean Rees, and Jack Herry, Dave Fuller, Ashlee Fitzpatrick, Ken Clarke, Thomas Crumpton, Rose Wedler, Joe O'Keefe, George Dimopoulos and Simon Verdon.

Cr Rees has drawn bottom position on the ballot paper for that ward, with Mr Herry, a farmer, scoring top place.

Former mayor Cr Clarke is aiming to continue on council at the age of 84, saying he is keen to see the emergence of work at HP Barr Reserve and the city's showground.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Towong voters will have an election for the first time in eight years after a poll was not needed in 2016 because there were five candidates for the five seats.

This time mayor David Wortmann and incumbents Aaron Scales and Andrew Whitehead will face-off with Denise Anderson, Stuart Spratt, Chris Weddall, Ellen Lazzarotto, Peter Dikschei and Bradley Treharne.

Cr Whitehead drew top position on the ballot paper, with Cr Scales at the tail.

Jennie Star and Peter Tolsher will not recontest after having been first elected in 2016.