ANITA Rank, the Glenelg Shire’s longest serving mayor has resigned from the Council, with more than a year to run before the next election.

The Councillor of 11 years resigned effective immediately on Friday, and said she was leaving in good spirits after accepting a “Federal Government position”.

Ms Rank said she was leaving after a rewarding time as a councillor and mayor.

“Over the years the Shire has done very well at improving the infrastructure that we have and the services that we provide. So that, I think, that's really rewarding and then, the opportunity to work with community members,” she said

Ms Rank counts major infrastructure projects such as the Portland Foreshore redevelopment and upgrades to Cape Bridgewater as points of pride, and said she regrets not addressing Council’s activities on January 26 earlier.

“I was passionate about that, and it's frustrating that it takes a lot of time to bring people together to make decisions.

“This is a really emotive decision, but it's also a very important decision and I'm so glad that we're having that now.”

Times have changed since Ms Rank was first elected in 2012, mostly for the better, she said.

“I think the change in the Local Government Act has been good, I personally don't think it goes far enough, especially with regards to the way local government is regarded and how councillors are respected.

“At the end of the day, we are the people that are the voice for the community.”

The Minister for Local Government and the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) have been notified about the vacancy, and will initiate the process of filling the vacancy.

Exactly how this will take place is unclear, though a similar recent situation at neighbouring Southern Grampians Shire, offers some clues to the process.

In that case a councillor resigned due to illness, and after a countback of the 2020 election results the VEC offered the position to one of the originally unsuccessful candidates - he turned it down as he had relocated to Queensland, and the role was offered to the next in line.

In the Glenelg Shire election at the same time, the last eliminated candidate was Portlander Robyn McDonald and before former mayor John Northcott from the Shire’s north.

Her resignation comes not long after long-term Shire CEO Greg Burgoyne resigned, along with some other senior changes at the council.

 Ms Rank said she expected council to come out well from this changing of the guard in its senior leadership.

“With change comes opportunities, and different people do things differently.

“It doesn't mean that it's any better or worse, people just do different things differently and sometimes it's good to have a change of thinking.”

The recent behaviour from some members of the public, which fellow Cr Chrissy Hawker described in the last meeting as bullying and harassment, has been a challenge but did not outweigh the positives.

“No one ever comes in and tells council they're doing a good job.

“But at the end of the day, they are doing a good job because they do get things done.”

When asked what she wished she could improve about the way things operate in council, Ms Rank said it would be collaboration.

One thing the public might not fully understand, Ms Rank said, is the work involved in being on council, particularly as mayor.

“I always went into that treating it as a full-time position, because that's what it was worth.

“The amount of reading involved, it's not all about going to events, it's having a good understanding of the Local Government Act.”

Ms Rank said she will have to work from elsewhere, but will continue to consider Portland home.

CEO Paul Phelan thanked Cr Rank for her tireless contributions to the Glenelg Shire throughout her decade of service.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank Cr Rank for her dedication to working for all residents of the Glenelg Shire, and the impact her leadership and guidance has made for generations to come,” he said.

“She represented her community with intelligence, care, and passion, and was a strong advocate for regional development and tourism.”

Further details of the process for filling the vacancy will be published on Council’s website as soon as available, a spokesperson said.