North Sydney Mayor election: Zoe Baker elected new mayor

North Sydney has a new mayor after the council’s longstanding incumbent made a shock exit from recontesting the position. See how the vote unfolded:

North Sydney has a new mayor after the council’s longstanding incumbent made a shock exit from recontesting the position.

Jilly Gibson, who has served as mayor for the last 10 years, backed down from challenging independent councillor Zoe Baker in the race to become the new mayor of North Sydney.

The mayoral position was determined at a meeting tonight by the majority vote of 10 councillors who were elected at the December 4 local government election.

Jilly Gibson has served as mayor since 2012.

Up until tonight, Ms Gibson had signalled her intention to recontest the top job in a challenge against Ms Baker, who is widely seen as her political rival.

Instead councillors were asked to vote between two mayoral nominations from Zoe Baker and Ian Mutton.

With a show of hands, Ms Baker was elected 6-4 with the support of MaryAnn Beregi, who stood for election on her Real Independents Team, two newly elected Labor councillors and two first-time councillors from the Sustainable Australia Party.

Ms Gibson, James Spenceley, and Alanya Drummond voted for Mr Mutton.

William Bourke – the founder of the Sustainable Australia Party – was meanwhile elected deputy mayor without a challenger.

Zoe Baker is tipped to become the new mayor

Prior to the meeting, it had become clear Ms Baker had the votes to secure the mayoralty after gaining critical support from Labor and Sustainable Australia.

Earlier today, Labor councillor Shannon Welch confirmed that the alliance had included a deal to secure the deputy mayor position.

With Labor’s support, Mr Bourke would be elected deputy mayor for the initial term when the group would then switch their support for Labor’s Godfrey Santer to take over the position.

Ms Welch said Labor, Sustainable Australia and the independents found consensus as their policies aligned.

“While we will be voting as a group tonight, going forward our voting will be similar as our policies are similar (but) no one is bound to vote with the group if they have a different opinion on an issue,” she said.

Sustainable Australia councillor William Bourke.

Speaking after the vote Ms Baker paid tribute to two former trailblazing mayors Genia McCafferey and her mother Carole Baker.

“I’m very fortunate to be mentored be two female mayors – it’s unfortunate neither be here tonight,” she said.

“I’m committed to ensuring this council will be an open and transparent council.

“We have a council who will be committed to and be guided by our exceptional community.”

This year’s mayoral election differs from previous years when the mayoralty was determined by the popular vote of residents on polling day.

The new voting system was introduced after a referendum question was put to the community at the 2017 local government election that had 52.4 per cent of residents support the mayoral election to be determined by councillors.

Speaking before tonight’s meeting, Ms Gibson said she believed the group of six councillors backing Ms Baker would take the council to the “political left”.

She also has lambasted the new voting system, saying the mayoralty should have been determined by residents on polling day.

“If there is a popular elected mayor it would take it back to the community – this system supports backroom deals and someone who would never win a popular vote,” Ms Gibson said.

The mayoral vote will be held on Monday night.

“It’s a slap in the face for democracy and there’s no opportunity for councillors to speak to mayoral candidates and directly ask questions about what their policies are.”

William Bourke said the party decided to back Zoe Baker after considering “several key factors” including her voting record on development issues such as opposing increasing building height limits in Neutral Bay.

“I think Jilly has been a hard working mayor and we thank her for all of the hard work – I think the community views are varied but ultimately we’re voting for a change,” he said.

Ms Baker stood for election on policies including stopping overdevelopment, campaigning against the Beaches Link and Western Harbour Tunnel projects and bringing back transparency to the council.