Riddoch Ward’s longest-serving councillor Dean Burrow (pictured) has ruled out a return to Wattle Range Council if a supplementary election is held.

Mr Burrow was unsuccessful in his bid for a fourth consecutive term in office at the November state-wide elections.

He was elected unopposed in 2010 and again in 2014 and 2018.

Emma Castine took his place on Riddoch ward but she has since been deposed by the Electoral Commissioner Mick Sherry for failure to complete mandatory candidate returns.

Ms Castine is seeking reinstatement through an appeal to the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

If she is unsuccessful, the Riddoch ward vacancy will either be filled via a supplementary election or by going to the next candidate on the ballot paper from November who is Mr Burrow.

The outcome of the SACAT appeal is not yet known but Mr Burrow is definite that he will not be a candidate if a supplementary election is called.

“I have not given any serious thought to the other possibility,” Mr Burrow said.

“When the Electoral Commissioner decision was known last week, I immediately phoned Emma and offered my support.

“After her election in November, she had asked me to mentor her.

“I agreed and this had been happening.”

Mr Burrow explained his close ties with the Castine clan.

“When I came to work with the then Penola District Council in the early 1980s, Penola had a forward-thinking mayor in Heyward Castine,” he said.

“He was Emma’s grandfather and a mentor to me in my council work.”