Neil Mitchell weighs into Melbourne lord mayor elections after Sally Capp's retirement with 'red hot tip' on candidate

Writen by Bryant Hevesi and Patrick Hannaford

Neil Mitchell has weighed into the race for Melbourne lord mayor, revealing a "red hot tip" on who will stand as a candidate at the election later this year. 

Veteran radio broadcaster Neil Mitchell has weighed into the upcoming Melbourne lord mayoral election, revealing a "red hot tip" about who might be in the running. The race for Town Hall intensified recently when current Lord Mayor Sally Capp announced she would be not contesting the October poll.

Ms Capp instead revealed she would step down from the role she has held for six years in June, with her deputy Nick Reece to serve as lord mayor until election day. Mitchell this week said while Mr Reece is a "good operator", the person he thinks is needed for the top job is Arron Wood, a previous deputy lord mayor.

"Can I give you a red hot tip? Arron Wood is odds on to run for lord mayor of Melbourne, odds on. It would have to be something extraordinary for him not to do it," Mitchell told 3AW's Heidi Murphy.

Neil Mitchell has thrown his support behind Arron Wood to become Melbourne lord mayor later this year. Picture: Jason Edwards

"That's my red hot tip. And I think we need him because he's not a political beast. With due respect to Nick Reece, and he's a good operator, he's a Labor man, he's a political animal, a party machine man."

Mr Wood ran against Ms Capp at the 2020 election. His Team Arron Wood, with Lisa Teh gunning for deputy mayor, lost out to Ms Capp and Mr Reece of Team Sally Capp.

After the distribution of preferences, Ms Capp and Mr Reece had 53.44 per cent of the vote, to Mr Wood and Ms Teh's 46.56 per cent.

"He got whipped by Sally Capp. But I think he's the sort of person we need because that's part of my broader point, democracy is broken," Mitchell said.

Mr Wood served on the council between 2012 and 2020, becoming deputy lord mayor in 2016.

Sally Capp recently announced she would be stepping down as Melbourne Lord Mayor. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Ms Capp last week said it was "time for me to seek new opportunities" outside of local politics after having "given everything" to the role of lord mayor.

"As you know, I like to work at full pace, full-time – and I believe that anyone contesting the election must be all-in for a full term," she said.

"I have decided that at 56, having spent my 50s so far at Town Hall, it’s time for me to seek new opportunities to propel me into my next decade.

"I will continue to give the job my full commitment right up until my last minute at Town Hall."