"There's a level of competitiveness with a directly elected mayor that people can become uncomfortable with, and I think in other local governments, considerable funding is spent by candidates to become elected so that means only those with plenty of money to give up are in with a chance to win and I think that's a disappointing part of it.
Mayor to be directly elected - Your Local Examiner
https://www.yourlocalexaminer.com.au/mayor-to-be-directly-elected/
https://www.yourlocalexaminer.com.au/mayor-to-be-directly-elected/