As I predicted, the composition of Marrickville Council was unchanged after the September 13 elections, despite the increased primary vote to the Greens. Still Greens 5, Labor 4, independents 3, though there are six new faces (three Greens, three Labor).

And so it came to pass at Tuesday night's Extraordinary Council Meeting, that the votes for both Mayor and Deputy Mayor ended in a 6-6 tie for the third year running. Peter Olive (Greens) had the support of incumbent independent Mayor Dimitrios Thanos, while Sam Iskandar (Labor) had the support of Morris Hanna and Victor Macri. Iskandar won the lucky draw.

Macri, with the support of Hanna and the four Labor councillors, lost the deputy mayor's bowlout to Fiona Byrne of the Greens.

The "Local" Labor group talked about "fresh team, new approach" in their electioneering material, and we have to hope they will play a more constructive role in council than in the past four years. Whether Hanna and Macri can put their dysfunctionality and small-mindedness of the past council behind them is a matter for which I share less optimism.

Reports on Tuesday night's mayoral elections from the Inner West Courier and The Glebe