MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has elected Cr Stephen Batty as its new mayor, after a dramatic contest for the top job.
The councillor group regrouped last Tuesday (16 June) after the earlier attempt to elect a new mayor to replace Anthony Marsh ended in a deadlocked five-all vote (No new mayor as vote deadlocked, The News 9/6/26).
Trying for a second meeting to elect a mayor, the chair, shire CEO Mark Stoermer, called for nominations. Cr Bruce Ranken nominated Cr Paul Pingiaro and Cr Max Patton nominated Cr Kate Roper.
Given the opportunity to address councillors, Pingiaro spoke first.
“I am standing here tonight because this council needs stability, experience, and a mayor whose ready from day one,” said Pingiaro.
“Over recent months I’ve done the work. I’ve stepped up when it was needed.
“I’ve worked closely with the CEO, the governance team, councillors and the municipal monitors and I understand how important this role is at this point at time.”
Roper told the councillors “I’ve been a councillor for 7.5 years, and been deputy mayor twice, so I actually think I have a little bit more experience than Cr Pingiaro”.
“I feel that I’m able to step into the position and do the job as well as anyone.”
Put to a vote, Crs Batty, Ranken, Allen, Williams and Pingiaro voted for Pingiaro to be mayor and Crs Patton, Binyon, Gill, Stephens, and Roper voted for Roper. Again, the vote was tied at five-all.
The chair of the meeting, shire CEO Mark Stoermer, adjourned the meeting for 15 minutes to allow discussions to take place.
On resumption of the meeting, when nominations were called for Cr Gill nominated Cr Batty, and Cr Allen nominated Cr Pingiaro.
Neither Pingiaro nor Batty took the opportunity to address councillors on the second round of voting.
When Stoermer asked for a show of hands, Crs Roper, Patton, Binyon, Stephens, Gill and Batty all cast their votes in favour of Batty, clinching him the mayoral role.
As Pingiaro was the deputy mayor, that role was not put to a vote, and he resumed his previously held position.
Speaking to The News Batty said, “I strongly believe we needed a decision and focus on our community issues rather than have this internal councillor debate continue”.
“It is not rocket science. Our community elected the councillors to provide a transparent entity to service the needs of our residents and businesses and provide a safe environs for our resident families and visitors to our region, and provide these services within budget restraints and have a zero tolerance to financial expenditure wastage.
“Each councillor is extremely passionate about their one ward’s needs, but as a group we need to focus on the entire shire, and engage with our residents and businesses. We were all elected to represent our residents .
“I am committed to the task, and I want to enjoy and have fun along the way, by interaction with the residents, businesses and the many many associations and clubs within the shire.”
Chief Executive Officer Mark Stoermer congratulated Batty on his election.
“On behalf of the organisation, I congratulate Cr Stephen Batty on being elected mayor of Mornington Peninsula Shire,” said Stoermer.
“We look forward to supporting the mayor and council as they continue delivering important services, projects and advocacy outcomes for our community.”
