CESSNOCK has voted on who will be their next deputy mayor for the next 12 months at its inaugural council meeting.
The newly-elected council and community members congregated at the chambers on Wednesday evening, October 16 where a new deputy mayor was determined through an open voting system.
There were two nominations received for the position with councillor Mitchell Hill and councillor Jessica Jurd putting up their hands.
Cr Hill was elected to the position following a vote of elected councillors, with seven votes to Cr Jurd's six.
"I'm grateful and excited for the opportunity to serve as deputy mayor of Cessnock and look forward to working with the new council to deliver quality outcomes for our community," Cr Hill said.
Cr Hill is a IT support worker at a local school and currently serving his second term on council representing Ward D.
He said he was looking forward to working alongside new mayor Daniel Watton in one of the fastest growing local government areas in the state.
"There are many important community services and infrastructure projects that are needed to keep up with our expanding community," he said.
"I'm eager to get to work on planning and delivering these outcomes for the people of Cessnock across this new term of council and helping where I can to assist new councillors in developing their skills inside the chamber and out."
Cr Watton congratulated Cr Hill on the election to the leadership team.
"Mitchell is a passionate advocate for our community. As deputy mayor hell be spreading that enthusiasm right across the LGA, and I look forward to working closely with him," he said.
Cr Watton was seated in the chair for his first official meeting and expressed his gratitude to be in the new role.
"To the people of Cessnock I am deeply grateful for the trust and support you placed in me. It is an absolute honour to be your mayor," he said.
"I promise you - and this is the only promise I can make - that I will always aim to do my absolute best in this role."
In other business, council set its schedule of meeting dates for the next year.
