Council & Politics
5 November, 2025
Who will be Mayor?
TWO Pyrenees Shire councillors have confirmed they will nominate for the job or Mayor when councillors meet in eight days time. Council’s annual statutory meeting will be held in Lexton on Monday the 10th of November where the five councillors will decide who will be Mayor for the next 12 months.
Cr Damian Ferrari and current Mayor Cr Tanya Kehoe have both confirmed they want the top job.
Cr Ferrari confirmed to the Advocate this week that he would seek the support of fellow councillors.
If successful, it would be his second time as Mayor having previously served in 2020/21.
Cr Kehoe, who has served in the job for the past 12 months, believed continuity is important leading up to the state election.
“It’s about building those relationships and advocacy particularly, but we want to be very fair in the process and we will support each other whoever is in that role,” she said.
“Obviously we have a process to go through but I have been absolutely delighted to serve in the position over the last 12 months.
“I certainly would be interested but I’m assuming there will be others interested too,” Cr Kehoe said.
While some other councillors have ruled out running for the Mayor’s job, the Advocate has been unable to contact others.
Cr Simon Tol confirmed he would not be seeking the job.
“Definitely not. It’s a very time consuming job,” Cr Tol said.
Pyrenees Shire traditionally only granted the Mayor of the day a single term before appointing someone new.
However, that practice ended between 2010 and 2012 when Cr Michael O’Connor was elected for two consecutive years as Mayor.
Cr Megan Phelan and Cr Rebecca Wardlaw could not be contacted for comment.
Deputy Mayor (sub heading)
FOR the first time, Pyrenees Shire will appoint a Deputy Mayor at next month’s statutory meeting, at an additional cost to ratepayers.
The Mayor receives an annual salary of $89,323 plus a car and other expenses while Councillors receive an annual wage of $28,110.
Councillors have decided that a Deputy Mayor will be installed in the future at an annual cost of $44,661.
It’s thought either Cr Megan Phelan or Cr Simon Tol will fill the Deputy Mayor’s position.