A decision by a City of Melville councillor to resign so he could run to be mayor of East Fremantle is likely to cost the city $80,000.

Council members have also complained the delay will put more work on the remaining ward representative, who is also up for election.

Tomas Fitzgerald, who had represented the Palmyra-Melville-Willagee ward since 2019, announced on September 4 he would be resigning.

He is now contending to be the Town of East Fremantle’s next mayor against deputy mayor Tony Natale.

Council elections will be held on October 18 but Mr Fitzgerald’s resignation was too late to advertise his vacancy.

The Melville council was told at its September 16 meeting the earliest an extraordinary election could be held was March, when other extraordinary elections are scheduled.

The

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