Gerald Power re-elected as Orange's deputy mayor

September 5, 2023

Gerald Power was re-elected as deputy mayor. Supplied.

By David Fitzsimons

It took nearly 30 minutes, four candidates stood, but in the end the status quo was retained for the role of deputy mayor in Orange.

Councillor Gerald Power was re-elected for a second term at Orange City Council, defeating councillor Jeff Whitton by 6-5 votes in the final vote on Tuesday night.

Whitton led the voting after the first round of the ballot. He received four votes with Power and councillor Tony Mileto on three each.

Councillor Mel McDonell was eliminated from the ballot after this round, receiving one vote.

Mileto, who lost the previous run-off for deputy mayor when that cliffhanger vote came down to names being pulled out of a box, was eliminated after polling three votes in the second round. Both Power and Whitton scored four.

In the end the councillors voted to keep things as they stand.

Mayor Jason Hamling was absent from the meeting on leave after he fainted at a council meeting last month.

His absence meant the role of deputy mayor assumed greater importance, as Power ran the meeting.