Jeff “Tank” Arthur will spend at least two more years as the Coorong district’s Deputy Mayor.

The Tintinara resident and four-term councillor was re-elected to the position at a council meeting on Tuesday.

He will stand in for returned Mayor Paul Simmons as required, and earn an allowance 25 per cent higher than the other councillors – a shade under $13,700.

A secret ballot was needed to decide who would get the gig: Cr Arthur or Meningie’s Cr Mick O’Hara.

Earlier, Rita and Michael Lindsay had conducted a welcome to country to open the new council’s first meeting.

Mr Simmons acknowledged the service of the four councillors who had not been re-elected: Tracy Hill, Glynis Taylor, Vern Leng and, after 28 years, Neville Jaensch.

The new and returning councillors had been sworn in a week earlier, by justice of the peace Helen Bowering.

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