Politics & Council
9 November, 2025
Who will be mayor? Councillors vote for next leader on Tuesday
LODDON Shire councillors will meet on Tuesday to elect the next mayor.
Councillors have been involved in private discussions ahead of the special meeting at the council chambers in Wedderburn.
Current mayor Dan Straub is expected to receive the nod to be the shire’s No 1 citizen for a fourth time.
Cr Straub served two terms as mayor during his first four years on council and following last year’s council elections, received the vote of the new council to again be leader.
Father of the council, Gavan Holt, has been Loddon mayor on seven occasions but is not expected to seek the role after his return to official duties last month after serious health issues that saw him have several weeks in hospital intensive care.
It is believed first-term councillors Miki Wilson, David Weaver and Nick Angelo want at least another year sitting around the council table before considering putting themselves forward to be mayor.
The five-member council can appoint a deputy mayor but previous meetings to elect the shire’s leader have not acted on the provision in the Local Government Act.
Instead, they have opted to allow appointment of a councillor to act in the position should the mayor be unavailable.
Loddon’s next mayor will have a key role pushing for commitments from the State Government and the Opposition in the lead-up to next November’s election.
Priorities include funding for the Inglewood streetscape project. Council has already submitted an application for a Federal Government contribution.
Topping’s Loddon’s election shopping list three years ago were a designated swimming pool maintenance and replacement fund and improved telecommunications services and connections.
- CHRIS EARL
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