PORT Stephens Mayor Bruce Mackenzie is to quit the position come the September mayoral elections.
Cr MacKenzie this week told the Examiner while he had enjoyed serving two terms as the mayor, it was time to give someone else a turn.
He said he would give deputy mayor Bob Westbury his full support.
But he said he may run again for the top job in 2012 at the next local government poll when for the first time Port Stephens voters, not the councillors, will elect the mayor for a four-year term.
Cr Westbury said while he was keen to be mayor he would not be pulling a Julia Gillard.
"I won't be like Julia and stab him (Cr MacKenzie) in the back and steal his job," he said.
"If he's ready to stand aside and the councillors give me their support I am keen to take the reins."
Cr MacKenzie made no
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