Graeme Hanger looks certain to be returned as mayor with Bobby Bourke to be the deputy after several days of frantic number-crunching by all nine councillors.

Ian North had previously indicated he would contest the mayoralty but he withdrew from the race on Tuesday to provide some stability on council.

Jess Jennings was still considering his position late on Tuesday but looked certain to fall short of the five votes needed.

Cr Hanger has only been mayor for six months since taking over when Gary Rush resigned in March.

Cr North said he had pulled out of the race because Cr Hanger deserved more time to make his mark on the job.

“I don’t want to see another change that would give us three mayors in six months after we had four mayors in four years a little while ago,” Cr North said.

“I have a couple of people who have been my sounding boards and and a number would have supported me but, in the end, the city is bigger than the person.”

Cr Bourke, who topped the Bathurst Regional Council poll on September 9, said he believed the voters had spoken and said they wanted to see him take on more responsibility.

He was confident he had the numbers within council to become deputy mayor for the first time as he starts his fifth term on council.

“I think the community has given me their support in their votes and it feels like I will get the support of the other councillors to be deputy mayor,” Cr Bourke said.

“I’m looking forward to working with Graeme and learning more about what happens behind the scenes.”

Cr Warren Aubin also said he believed Cr Hanger deserved a longer run as mayor.

“I’m one that’s not ever going to support going to a popularly elected mayor but looking at the others around me half want to go that way,” he said.

“If that’s the case then Graeme got the votes. It would hypocritical for them to stand against him.”

Newcomer Alex Christian said the past few days of mayoral wheeling and dealing had been interesting but he was now looking forward to moving ahead as a united council.

“I believe Graeme Hanger will be mayor and I’m going to contact Graeme to let him know my thoughts on that,” he said. “It’s a numbers game and because the numbers fell that way I’m happy to support him.”