Scenic Rim Regional Council endorses Jeff McConnell as deputy mayor

Cr Christensen said he hoped Cr Enright would be afforded the same respect as last year's deputy mayor Cr Duncan McInnes who he said had retained the job for two years in a row.

Cr McInnes pointed out that the two terms he served were in different councils.

Cr Enright accepted the nomination.

"It has been a privilege for me to work alongside the mayor during this time," he said.

"It has certainly given me a greater appreciation of the huge workload, the energy, the strategic thinking of our mayor. It's given me a better understanding of the mayor's advocacy beyond our region and the respect that's held for him in these areas."

The Mayor's motion that Cr Enright be reappointed did not receive a seconder and there was no vote on the matter.

Cr Duncan McInnes then nominated Cr Jeff McConnell for the job.

The mayor spoke against the idea, saying Cr McConnell did not have the foundations available from having served a whole term in office.

"From my experience with Cr McConnell there are still some of those foundations that are less than what I think is stable for the deputy mayor," he said.

"For me, I am concerned that this may be premature, not that it's not admirable to have that desire but there is, from my perspective, still some, further development to be ready for the role."

The resolution was carried, with all but Cr Christensen and Cr Enright voting for Cr McConnell's appointment as deputy mayor.

"Congratulations councillor," the mayor said.

"I look forward to progressing with that development process."

Cr McConnell was not given the opportunity to speak after the vote but later said he was looking forward to serving Scenic Rim residents as deputy mayor.

'It's an honour to be elected as deputy mayor by my fellow councillors," he said.

"I look forward to the challenges and opportunities and thank Cr Enright for his stewardship of the deputy mayor position for the last 12 months, he's done a good job."