Will Deputy Mayor Cr Leigh Dunscombe take the top job? Photo ­© Ash Long

Murrindindi Shire Council will hold a special meeting next week at which a vote will be held to decide the position of Mayor for the year ahead.

If Cr Sandice Mc-Aulay decides not to stand again for the top position, the Council’s practice in recent years has been to appoint the Deputy Mayor to the role.

Cr Leigh Dunscombe, of Kinglake Ward, is currently in the deputy role.

There are seven Councillors, of which Crs Charlie Bisset, Sandice McAulay and Margaret Rae have already held the post.

Other Councillors are Cr Jackie Ashe, who has a number of outside work commitments; Cr Eric Lording, who would like the Mayor’s position, but in the past has been unable to secure the numbers; and Cr Bec Bowles, who may be a surprise candidate.

Cr Dunscombe has come under fire in recent times from several Kinglake circles.

He was not successful in trying to explain that Councillors could no longer sign petitions, nor express pre-conceived views on local issues.