LOCAL government elections for the Meander Valley Council will see standing Mayor Craig Perkins contest his role against ambitious councillor Andrew Connor.
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Cr Perkins was elected in 2011 to the position that was left vacant by former mayor Mark Shelton, who left for a position in federal politics.
He won the role against outgoing councillor Ian Howard with 4145 votes to Cr Howard's 3108.
Cr Perkins was initially elected as a councillor in the 2009 election and was successful after the 26th count, pushing through as the fifth of six successful candidates, holding a primary count of 499.
The 2009 election had 13 applicants and received 7250 formal votes.
Cr Connor was a Labor candidate in the 2013 state elections and is a spokesman for Digital Tasmania and an SES volunteer.
He was elected in the 2011 poll, receiving 916 primary votes to be elected as councillor — the fourth of four successful candidates.
The 2009 election had 7265 votes and six applicants.
The council will see three of its existing members bow out in this year's election, including Cr Pat Frost.
Cr Frost first joined Meander Valley Council in 1968 for two years and rejoined in 2001. After her term ends this month, she will have served 16 years as an elected member.
Councillors Rodney Linger and Howard will also stand down from their roles.
The battle for Meander Valley deputy mayor will be a tussle between current Deputy Mayor Deborah White, Cr Rodney Synfield and former councillor and campaigner Michael Kelly.
Cr White assumed her role after the death of former deputy mayor and longstanding council member Bob Loone in December last year.
Cr White was elected third in the 2011 elections, with an initial primary vote of 1251.
Cr Synfield was appointed to council in December last year, after missing a position in the 2009 election with 185 primary votes.
Mr Kelly left the council in 2007 after being elected in 2005 with 581 votes. He has since been active in campaigning for the revitalisation of Tasmania's forest industry.
Existing councillors Ian Mackenzie and Bob Richardson will be again standing for a position at the management table.
Cr Mackenzie received 1575 primary votes in the 2011 election, and Cr Richardson won through in 2009 with 796 primary votes.
New faces to the election role include TasWater water scientist Tanya King, Richie Fellows, community worker Tenielle McDermott, wilderness and landscape photographer John Temple, Western Tiers MLC Greg Hall's secretary Dawn Valance and Rodney Youd.
Four of the 13 candidates for council positions will not gain a seat in the 2014-18 board.
