GREENS party councillor Katie Milne has emerged as the councillor most favoured to be Tweed mayor by voters in an online poll conducted by The Daily News.

Cr Milne was selected by 36% of respondents as the councillor they want to be mayor, with Deputy Mayor Barry Longland coming in second with 24% of the vote. Incumbent Mayor Kevin Skinner was third on 18%.

Former mayors Warren Polglase and Joan van Lieshout won 11% and 2% of the vote respectively. Dot Holdom garnered 5%, while none of the respondents wanted Phil Youngblutt in the top job.

The poll was prompted by the looming vote by councillors at their next meeting on Tuesday week to choose a mayor for the next 12 months, with Crs Skinner, Polglase and Longland the likely contenders.

Cr Milne appears unlikely to have the numbers.

Asked to comment, Cr Milne yesterday responded with an attack on Liberal Party councillor van Lieshout for indicating she may vote for Crs Polglase or Skinner.

Cr van Lieshout had earlier said she would not vote for Cr Longland because of his "Labor/Green" connections.

"Her claim that he is Labor-influenced is just plain wrong and misleading," Cr Milne said.

Cr van Lieshout said Cr Longland ran on a ticket which had a "mix of Labor, Green and apparently Liberal", and she was determined to reflect the wishes of the majority of voters she believes want a conservative council.

The poll results have prompted Cr Skinner to declare he favours having the mayor elected by the people rather than by councillors.

Cr Skinner said he did not place much credence on internet polling.

"I certainly don't think the majority of electors of Tweed Shire Council favour Katie Milne as mayor," Cr Skinner said.

Despite previously opposing change that would allow voters to choose the mayor, Cr Skinner revealed he had changed his mind and would vote for the reform, predicting it would be again put before the council before the council election next September.

He said it would provide better continuity.