Victorian Electoral Commission conducts countback to determine who will replace John Watson who resigned due to his health

Danny Chamberlain topped a countback of candidates from the 2020 municipal election held by the Victorian Electoral Commission on Tuesday morning.

The son of the late Rex Chamberlain defeated Greens candidate Rupinder Kaur for the position after preferences were calculated.

Mr Chamberlain originally polled 1287 votes in the poll two years ago, while Ms Kaur had 944.

Former policeman Rick Del Monte, who was third in today's countback, had 1123.

The countback result means the 3-3 deadlock, which resulted in the council being unable to decide on a mayor, is broken.

At an extraordinary council meeting last month, councillors split 3-3 in a mayoral vote between incumbent Kev Poulton and Ron Mildren.

As a result deputy mayor Graeme Simpfendorfer was drafted in as acting mayor until a seventh councillor was decided.

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A motion that a further vote be held no later than January 16 was then passed.

That was decided on the basis that the new councillor could have the opportunity to see the council from the inside and become familiar with operations before having to decide on the mayor.

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