Council & accountability · Orange City Council
J Stedman re-elected Orange deputy mayor after procedural error
Council ordered a fresh election for a term ending 9 September 2028, then declared Cr J Stedman elected as the sole nominee.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Cr J Stedman has been re-elected Orange deputy mayor after Orange City Council found a procedural error in the 15 September election process and ordered a fresh vote for a term ending 9 September 2028.
At its 6 October meeting, councillors rejected a motion to ratify the earlier result. They instead resolved to hold a new election by ordinary ballot, with the chief executive officer acting as returning officer. The minutes do not identify the error in the original process.
The CEO later advised that Cr Stedman was the only nominee. With no further nominations, Cr Stedman was declared elected for the period from 6 October 2026 to 9 September 2028.
The resolutions approving the new process and election were carried with no votes against. Cr S Peterson was absent. Cr Stedman was listed among those voting for the new election process and was also the sole nominee.
The same meeting confirmed existing policy and community committee chairpersons and councillor memberships until September 2028, in a separate resolution.
What deserves a closer look
The public minutes establish that the earlier process contained a procedural error, but do not describe what went wrong or why a fresh election was required instead of ratification.
Because Cr J Stedman was the sole nominee, the new election did not produce a contested result.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What specific procedural error occurred during the 15 September election process?
Did the error affect nominations, voting or another stage of the election?
Why was a new election required rather than ratification of the earlier result?
What happens next
The public minutes record that the CEO, acting as returning officer, conducted the new ordinary-ballot election.
Cr J Stedman is to serve as deputy mayor from 6 October 2026 to 9 September 2028.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
Council resolved to conduct a new deputy mayor election because of a procedural error identified in the 15 September process.
THE MOTION ON BEING PUT WAS CARRIED. RESOLVED - 26/555 Cr J Whitton/Cr J Stedman That Council conduct a new election for the position of Deputy Mayor due to a procedural error identified in the election process conducted on 15 September 2026 and a) That the Deputy Mayor be elected for the period 6 October 2026 to 9 September 2028.
Resolution 26/555, item 5.1
Open original minutes ↗The new election was to use an ordinary ballot, with the CEO acting as returning officer, for the period 6 October 2026 to 9 September 2028.
b) That the method of voting for the election of Deputy Mayor be ordinary ballot. c) That the Chief Executive Officer, acting as the Returning Officer, conduct the election for the Deputy Mayor.
Item 5.1, resolution 26/555
Open original minutes ↗Cr J Stedman was the only nominee and was declared elected.
As no further nominations were received, Cr J Stedman was declared elected Deputy Mayor. *Cr Duffy returned to the meeting via AudioVisual Link with the time being 8.47pm* ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 6 OCTOBER 2026 Page 6 5.2 POLICY AND COMMUNITY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP TRIM REFERENCE: 2026/1870 RESOLVED - 26/556 Cr D Mallard/Cr M McDonell That Council confirms the continuation of the current Policy Committee Chairpersons, Community Committee Chairpersons and Community Committee Councillor membership until the conclusion of the current Council term in September 2028 and that Cr Duffy join the Airport Community Committee as a Councillor member.
Item 5.1, election result
Open original minutes ↗The resolution approving the new process was carried with no votes against and Cr S Peterson absent.
For: Cr T Mileto (Mayor), Cr J Stedman (Deputy Mayor), Cr K Duffy, Cr T Greenhalgh, Cr G Judge, Cr F Kinghorne, Cr D Mallard, Cr M McDonell, Cr G Power, Cr M Ruddy, Cr J Whitton Against: Nil Absent: Cr S Peterson THE AMENDMENT ON BEING PUT WAS CARRIED AND BECAME THE MOTION.
Item 5.1, vote on amendment
Open original minutes ↗Source record
This report is based on Orange City Council’s public minutes for its ordinary meeting held on 6 October 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council voted on 6 October 2026 to conduct a new deputy mayor election because of a procedural error identified in the 15 September process.
- The new election used an ordinary ballot, with the chief executive officer acting as returning officer.
- Cr J Stedman was the only nominee and was declared elected.
- The recorded term runs from 6 October 2026 to 9 September 2028.
- The resolutions on the rerun and election were carried without votes against, with Cr S Peterson absent.
Why it matters
- Cr J Stedman will hold Orange City Council’s deputy mayor position for the period recorded in the resolution, ending 9 September 2028.