Cr Manzie, who delivered the crucial vote for Cr Morrissey's mayoral election last year, said he would not support "anyone running two years in a row".

"Although Tom has done the position justice in the past 12 months, someone else should be given a role."

Cr Paul Klisaris, the defeated Labor mayoral candidate last year, confirmed he was in the running for the December 18 election.

He can count on the support of four Labor colleagues but needs at least one vote from the independent councillors to secure the mayoralty.

If it was a two-way showdown between Cr Morrissey and himself, he would have Cr Manzie's vote despite the ugly fallout to last year's mayoral election.

After last year's vote, Cr Manzie was alleged to have been assaulted and verbally threatened by supporters of Cr Klisaris.

Labor councillors assumed they had Cr Manzie's support in the vote, but Cr Manzie later said Cr Morrissey was "the better option".

Asked last week who he would vote for in a repeat of last year's mayoral contest, Cr Manzie said: "It's difficult to envisage voting for someone running for a second year term, so I'll have to vote for Paul."

Cr Morrissey, who was undecided on whether to run again, said Cr Manzie was entitled to his position.

When asked about the potential damage to his re-election hopes, he said: "It's democracy at work. We saw it in action last year, and I believe in democracy."

Mulgrave Ward councillor Craig Shiell said he would consider throwing his hat into the ring, but it was too early to make a decision.