other · Orange City Council
J Stedman elected Orange deputy mayor after four-ballot contest
Cr J Stedman won the September 2026 to September 2028 term after Council chose an ordinary ballot and rejected a proposal for open voting.
Cr J Stedman has been elected Orange’s Deputy Mayor for the September 2026 to September 2028 term after winning the fourth ballot in a five-candidate contest.
Orange City Council chose an ordinary ballot for the election, with the Chief Executive Officer acting as returning officer. Candidates were allowed three minutes each to address Council before voting.
Nominations came from Cr J Stedman, Cr M Ruddy, Cr T Greenhalgh, Cr G Power and Cr S Peterson.
Cr Greenhalgh led the first three rounds with five votes each. Cr Peterson was excluded after receiving one vote in the opening ballot.
Cr Ruddy and Cr G Power were tied on two votes in the second round. Cr Ruddy withdrew her nomination, leaving Cr J Stedman, Cr T Greenhalgh and Cr G Power in the contest.
Cr G Power was excluded after receiving three votes in the third ballot. Cr J Stedman then won the final round with seven votes to Cr Greenhalgh’s five and was declared elected.
The ordinary-ballot method was approved unanimously. An amendment proposing open voting was defeated, with four councillors supporting it and eight opposing it. The amendment was moved by Cr F Kinghorne and Cr K Duffy.
Cr Greenhalgh, Cr K Duffy, Cr G Judge and Cr F Kinghorne voted for open voting. Mayor T Mileto, Cr D Mallard, Cr M McDonell, Cr S Peterson, Cr G Power, Cr M Ruddy, Cr J Stedman and Cr J Whitton voted against it.
A nomination issue will return to Council on 6 October 2026. After the election, the returning officer advised that Cr Peterson’s nomination had mistakenly been read as nominating Cr Ruddy. Council will consider the matter for further determination.
Reference minutes
Orange City Council considered the Deputy Mayor election at its ordinary meeting on 15 September 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Cr J Stedman was declared Deputy Mayor for September 2026 to September 2028.
- The election used an ordinary ballot rather than open voting.
- Candidates were allowed three minutes to address councillors before voting.
- Cr Stedman won the final ballot 7-5 against Cr T Greenhalgh.
- Five councillors nominated for the position: Cr Stedman, Cr M Ruddy, Cr T Greenhalgh, Cr G Power and Cr S Peterson.
- Council will consider a nomination error at its 6 October 2026 meeting.
Why it matters
- Cr J Stedman will serve as Orange’s Deputy Mayor for the September 2026 to September 2028 term, while Council will revisit a nomination issue on 6 October 2026.