The open mayoral contest in Tasmania’s Meander Valley Council has produced a tight race between Deputy Mayor Stephanie Cameron and Councillor Ben Dudman after incumbent Wayne Johnston announced in April 2026 that he would not seek re-election. Johnston, who had held the position since 2018, cited family commitments, travel plans, and fatigue from public criticism as reasons for stepping aside. With nominations closed and compulsory postal voting scheduled to conclude around October 27-28, traders see limited separation between the two leading candidates, both long-serving local figures with established community ties. John Temple and several others remain on the ballot but trade at far lower levels, reflecting the market’s assessment that the outcome hinges on preferences between the top two contenders in the final weeks of the campaign.