Power play as Orange elects first Indigenous deputy mayor

Orange's new deputy mayor is Gerald Power. Supplied.

By David Fitzsimons

Orange has its first Indigenous deputy mayor, after new councillor Gerald Power was elected to the position on Tuesday night at the first council meeting of the year.

His victory came in an unlikely fashion - his name was drawn out of a box after a vote by councillors was tied.

Power and councillor Tony Mileto had received six votes each from the 12 councillors.

He won from an initial field of five candidates who nominated for the role.

Councillor Steve Peterson was the first nominee to be eliminated by the secret ballot.

He was then followed out of the count by councillor Kevin Duffy and councillor Jeff Whitton.

Power will hold the title until September 2023, when the position will be up for voting again.

Meanwhile, the council also agreed to waive fees of up to $785 for the staging of the funeral of the previous deputy mayor, Glenn Taylor, who died last Saturday.

The funeral will be held at the Orange Botanic Gardens.