Former 3AW Mornings host Neil Mitchell denies tilt at Melbourne City Council

Outspoken talk back radio host Neil Mitchell has flat-out rejected rumours of a Town Hall tilt like his former 3AW stable mate Derryn Hinch, labelling councils an “anachronistic system”.

News of Derryn Hinch’s plans for a tilt at Town Hall had the rumour mill in overdrive with talk of another potential nomination.

Word out of Town Hall was that another former radio man, this time the titan himself, Neil Mitchell, was considering a run as a councillor come the October elections.

So Page 13 went straight to the source, with Mitchell saying while he had also heard the same whispers, he would under no circumstance, none whatsoever, be putting his hand up.

Not one to mince his words, Mitchell said the only thing to lure him onto council would be to “close it down.”

“If I was to run for Council it would only be to move a motion to disband the whole bloody system,” Mitchell said.

Neil Mitchell said he’d only run for council if it meant disbanding the “whole bloody system”. Picture: David Crosling

“I don’t like heights and I have a bird phobia but I’d rather go skydiving with a chook strapped to my head than be a member of council. I really think it is an anachronistic system.”

Gulp.

Mitchell did, however, say a person of passion was needed, adding that he once floated Robert Doyle for the top job, only for him to take it up.

“I’m responsible for Robert Doyle in a way,” Mitchell said. “He didn’t do a bad job, it was in other areas he had problems.”

“That’s the sort of approach we need without the extra-curricular stuff.”

Mitchell did float names such as Gillon McLachlan, Martin Pakula and Ken Lay as ideal candidates.

Gill for Mayor? Mitchell thinks so. Picture: Mark Stewart

Ken Lay was also put forward by Mitchell. Picture: James Ross.

Meanwhile, Sally Capp returns from leave next week after a holiday in Antarctica of all places.

Going to the end of the earth to find some headspace to reflect on her future perhaps?

The Collingwood zealot (aren’t they all) has given few clues whether she’ll go for a mayoral three-peat.

But last August she hinted she may stay on to see her pet Greenline project come to fruition by 2028 at the earliest.

“I definitely plan on being there to cut the ribbon at each stage,’’ she told the Herald Sun.

Sally Capp was the first woman to be elected to the city’s top job, sworn in May 2018 and re-elected in November 2020.

Capp’s decision either way may dictate whether her deputy Nick Reece, who has Labor connections, will run for the top job.

Other possible names in the mix are former Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood and current councillor Roshena Campbell, who would have Liberal Party backing.

No Greens candidate has emerged so far, with long-time councillor and unsuccessful 2018 mayoral candidate Rohan Leppert expected to step away after this term.

Nick Russian ran for Lord Mayor in 2020, gathering a respectable 10 per cent of the vote.