Councillor Nathan Hersey has been elected Mayor of South Gippsland Shire for a second term following a vote that split cleanly along gender lines, with all five male councillors voting in his favour while the three female councillors, including fellow mayoral nominee Sarah Gilligan, voted against.
The election, held at a council meeting on 19 November, saw Cr Hersey secure the votes needed for an absolute majority from Councillors Brad Snell, John Schelling, John Kennedy, and Steve Finlay.
Fellow mayoral candidate Scott Rae, who made a campaign pitch prior to the vote, gave his support to Cr Hersey in the first round of voting. The majority outcome appeared to be a surprise to several Councillors, and there was some clarification sought in the chambers before the mayoralty was awarded. Cr Snell was subsequently elected Deputy Mayor in his first term in the role.
This marks Cr Hersey's second term as Mayor, having previously held the position from November 2022 to November 2023 on the former Council.
Cr Hersey and Cr Gilligan also made their cases prior to the vote.
Cr Hersey emphasised his experience and capacity for the role, noting his 13 years of experience at federal, state, and local government levels.
"I'm nominating for Mayor because I know I have the capacity, the skill, the time to do the role, and I understand the scale of the organisation and the responsibility that we hold both to the organisation but also to the region and our people," Cr Hersey told the meeting.
Cr Gilligan, who has served as Deputy Mayor for the past year, made a passionate case for the mayoral role, emphasising her advocacy work, strategic understanding, and collaborative approach. "I love this complex, challenging place with all its different communities and I'd love your support as Mayor for one year," Cr Gilligan said.
Cr Gilligan emphasised collaboration as central to her approach: "On two campaigns, I ran on the word together. It's not just a slogan for me, it's a way of getting things done."
In his acceptance speech, Cr Hersey thanked Cr Gilligan for her work as Deputy Mayor, calling her "an incredible operator" who brought balance to the room and fantastic support to the Mayor.
When asked by the Sentinel-Times about working with Cr Gilligan following the result, Cr Hersey expressed confidence they would work productively together.
"We'll work on that," he said, noting that serving the community is a shared goal.
Following the vote, Cr Gilligan noted to the Prom Coast News that "no other level of government elects their leader at a public meeting."
Chief Executive Officer Allison Jones congratulated Hersey and Snell on their appointments.
"Their leadership will be key in shaping the future of South Gippsland Shire Council, and I'm excited about the opportunities ahead as we work together, with the broader Councillor group, to deliver great outcomes for our region," Ms Jones said. Cara Schultz
