Councillor Vanessa Ekins, of Lismore Greens, has been confirmed as Mayor of Lismore.

Five councillors nominated themselves as candidates for Mayor, they were Councillors Casson, Marks, Ekins, Bird and Cook as we reported this morning.

In the first round of voting three councillors received one vote, they were Cnrs Casson, Bird and Cook. The three names were put into a cylinder where the first name pulled out was excluded from the second round of voting. That name was Cnr Darlene Cook.

During the second round of voting Cnr Casson received zero votes so was immediately excluded with Cnrs Marks and Bird receiving two votes each. These two names went into the cylinder where Cnr Marks' name was drawn and was excluded.

For round three the votes was down to the final two candidates, Cnr Vanessa Ekins and Cnr Elly Bird. Cnr Ekins received four votes with Cnr Bird receiving two votes with two councillors abstaining (Marks and Moorhouse).

Vanessa Ekins, who unsuccessfully stood as a candidate for the Australian Greens Party in the Legislative Council at the New South Wales state election on 24 March 2007, was declared Mayor of Lismore.

Lismore Greens posted on the party's Facebook page: "Congratulations to the new Greens Mayor of Lismore - Vanessa Ekins! After being elected by her fellow councillors, Vanessa will be the Mayor of Lismore until the city council elections in September. This is an amazing opportunity for Lismore, so thank you to the city councillors who showed her their support. Good things are in store for Lismore."

Mayor Ekins assumed her role immediately and chaired the rest of the council meeting.

The Lismore App will have a full rundown of the first council meeting for 2021 tomorrow morning.