Four years after announcing his retirement as councillor, the “phoenix” once again rose from the ashes to take the top job ahead of close contenders Mike Neville and Bill Lancaster.

After the announcement yesterday afternoon, Cr Dal Broi said he was delighted to once again take on the role and thanked residents for their support and confidence in his ability to lead the city. 

“I’m thrilled and humbled that after being out of the chair for six years and out of council for four years the community has seen fit to give me an opportunity to lead Griffith for the next four years,” he said. 

“To me personally, it means that the community must have thought I did a pretty good job when I was mayor before to have entrusted me with the role again.”

Cr Dal Broi seized the mayoral chains after securing 24 per cent of the primary vote and a majority of 55 per cent after preferences were counted.

His victory has ended the reign of Mike Neville, who secured 20 per cent of the primary vote.

But Mr Neville’s stint at council is far from over after he secured the second-highest number of primary votes in the councillor elections at the weekend. 

Cr Dal Broi said he wanted to “hit the ground running” in his role as mayor and was determined to bring the community back into council’s decision-making process.

“I’m going to work desperately hard to make sure that most of council’s decisions are made in a transparent way,” he said. 

“Whilst some issues have to be held in closed council, everyone should be fully aware of council operations.”

Informal meetings where decisions are made with little or no debate will be no more under Cr Dal Broi’s reign, with the new mayor favouring open debate and community involvement.

“I’ll be looking at more workshops whereby councillors, council staff and community members that have an interest may attend,” he said. 

“I want to give the community an opportunity to express their opinion and I believe once the community grasps the concept of these workshops they’ll embrace it.”

Council expenditure, roads and the Yenda flooding will also be on Cr Dal Broi’s agenda in the early days of his leadership.

“I’ll be looking at all council’s expenditure – we have to find savings,” he said. 

“Most of the candidates that stood for council stood on a platform for the three Rs (roads, rates and rubbish) and that’s a concept I fully support.

“The rural roads in particular are in a poor state and trucks are falling to bits because of them, that’s something we need to look at.

“I’m also keen to have a close look at Yenda and the flooding situation. In the near future – not months, but weeks – I want to have a council meeting at Yenda and invite the residents to express their views and I’ll certainly be expressing mine.”

Preferences are still being sorted for the councillor elections.