IT IS the most heated local government election in WA — the race for control of the City of Perth.

With ballot papers hitting letterboxes this week, 16 candidates will spend the next month doorknocking and talking with the city’s 14,000 residential and business voters in their bid to win one of four council seats.

But the race will be a precursor to the factional brawl that will break out after the results are declared.

Just days after the October 21 election, Perth councillors will meet to elect a deputy lord mayor, and competition for the role is in overdrive.

Camera Icon Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi and her deputy James Limnios. Credit: PerthNow

With Lisa Scaffidi challenging her disqualification and uncertainty over her future as Lord Mayor, the next deputy will become acting lord mayor and will be in the role if an extraordinary election is held.

Candidates are already forming blocs that could deliver the votes.

But despite the emergence of the groups, candidates were talking of their independence this week.

The first group, led by acting lord mayor James Limnios, is the biggest, with three candidates joining him under the banner of “independent thinkers with a common vision”.

“Their vision’s quite aligned with what I want to see in the city, and they’re fresh,” Cr Limnios said.

The group includes lawyer Lexi Barton, mother-of-two Natasha Tang and local manager Xiao Liang.

Cr Limnios denied the ticket was designed to shore up his position as deputy lord mayor, saying he did not expect anyone to toe any line.

“I would like to (run for deputy lord mayor), but I’m also a pragmatist and in the event that around the table I don’t think I’ve got the support that I need I won’t put my hand up for it,” Cr Limnios said.

Camera Icon Dianne Bain. Credit: PerthNow Camera Icon Reece Harley Credit: PerthNow

Lord mayoral aspirant Reece Harley, who confirmed he would contest the deputy’s position after the election, said he saw former journalist Dianne Bain and top-of-the-ballot Steve Hasluck as “high-calibre” candidates.

But Cr Harley said there was “no obligation” for either to back him for the deputy position. “In order to progress your agenda for the city you need to have people of a like mind and at the moment we’ve seen some quite stark divisions in the council,” he said.

“In order for me to try and do what I think is best for the city I want to try and get people on board who were progressive and shared a similar vision.”

In a letter to voters Ms Bain, wife of Perth businessman John Poynton, backed Cr Harley and Mr Hasluck as people with “fresh ideas”, but said it was not a faction.

Camera Icon Michael Sutherland Credit: PerthNow Camera Icon Lexi Barton Credit: PerthNow

Ms Bain said one of the reasons she was running was because of the council’s dysfunction.

“I’m not about factions or old-school politics,” she said. “People hate that.”

On a how-to-vote card authorised by Judy McEvoy, the long-serving councillor endorsed her colleague Keith Yong and former council candidate Terry Maller.

Cr McEvoy said the group had formed to share the cost of campaigning. Cr Yong and Cr McEvoy have been part of the Scaffidi faction

Mr Maller saidhe had been friends with Ms Scaffidi for a long time, and encouraged her to run for council.

Mr Maller said he did not ask to be placed on the how-to-vote card.

“I won’t be part of any factions, I’ll vote on all policies as they come before council. I’m definitely and independent,” he said.

Despite former Liberal MP Michael Sutherland and candidate Lynette Wen having almost identical campaign material and messages — both claim to be an “independent voice” — Mr Sutherland said there was no connection between the pair.

The remaining candidates in the field, Michael Felix, Scott O’Keeffe, Dhan Shrestha and Anthony Olivieri, are running separate campaigns, but have similar messages around restoring the image of the Perth City Council.