MOUNT Isa Deputy Mayor Brett Peterson is at risk of losing his position after falling out of favour with the mayor and the councillors that initially backed him.
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On Friday, Mayor Tony McGrady said; “there are moves afoot in the Mount Isa City Council to declare the position of deputy mayor vacant.”
Councillor McGrady said it was difficult to discuss issues, agendas and budgets with the deputy mayor, as it was a challenge to contact him.
“The last thing I wanted in the world was this, (but) in the interest of the city,” Cr McGrady said.
Under the Local Government Act, the decision to declare the deputy mayor vacant needed 14 days’ notice.
Councillors would then vote to declare the deputy mayor position vacant, which needed a majority to pass.
The deputy mayor position would then be filled by someone else.
Cr McGrady was on leave on Friday to attend his son’s wedding in Townsville, and chose chair of finance Cr Joyce McCulloch to represent him at several functions including a Mount Isa based meeting with State Minister for Main Roads, Mark Bailey.
Cr McCulloch would also make a speech at the Symphony of the Inland Sea to be held on Friday night.
This did not mean that Cr McCulloch had the title of acting mayor.
Cr McGrady said it was his prerogative to choose any councillor to represent him at functions, and he felt that the chair of finance would be more appropriate to speak at both functions.
Cr McCulloch confirmed that her role was as "an elected councillor for the Mount Isa City Council".
"I am not interested in that sort of rot," she said, referring to a suggestion she met Mr Bailey as acting mayor.
"I am not interested in games in politics."
Cr George Fortune was disappointed in the deputy mayor’s performance, but believed it would be disruptive to the council if the position was made vacant eight months before the next council election.
“It’s my opinion this council is operating well and moving people out of positions would be a backwards step,” Cr Fortune said.
He said the deputy mayor was voted into his position by Cr Joyce McCulloch, Cr Jean Ferris and himself.
This made up the group of councillors known not to side with the mayor.
“We were led to believe he was the conduit for information and ideas sharing with the mayor through his role as deputy mayor,” Cr Fortune said.
“I have no aspirations of being deputy mayor and I am not after his job but I believe he could have done the job better as a team member, as a leader and to the community.”
