KIM Ford was re-elected Mayor of Hawkesbury and Councillor Warwick Mackay elected Deputy Mayor on Tuesday.
The previous deputy, Councillor Bob Porter, did not stand.
Councillor Mary Lyons-Buckett also stood for Mayor with Councillor Barry Calvert seeking the deputy’s position.
Despite some vocal backing for Councillor Lyons-Buckett from supporters in the public gallery, Mayor Ford defeated her, 7-4 votes.
Councillors Mackay, Porter, Patrick Conolly, Mike Creed, Jill Reardon and Tiffany Tree voted with and for Mayor Ford.
Councillors Calvert, Leigh Williams and Paul Rasmussen voted with and for Councillor Lyons-Buckett.
The same councillors voted 7-4 in favour of Councillor Mackay.
Councillor Christine Paine was absent from the meeting.
‘‘I’m pleased to have this position still and I look forward to working with all councillors to finish what we’ve started,’’ Mayor Ford said.
‘‘An important priority is our Fit for the Future plan, so we’re sustainable.
‘‘We want sustainable development in the Hawkesbury and we need more infrastructure.
‘‘The region needs an expansion of residential stock and redefining areas in our residential land strategy.’’
Deputy Mayor Mackay said he was honoured to have the position he last held on Hawkesbury Council in the 1990s.
‘‘There have been lots of changes since then,’’ he said.
‘‘I look forward to seeing what we can now do over the next 12 months.’’
He said he agreed with the Mayor that Fit for the Future was an important challenge for Hawkesbury.
‘‘We need to keep the Council well financed and the region sustainable,’’ Deputy Mayor Mackay said.
Mayor Ford also said he intended to nurture Hawkesbury’s alliance with the neighbouring Penrith and Blue Mountains councils.
‘‘It’s a great way we can all achieve self-sufficiency,’’ he said.