It will be up to both ratepayers and the new council  to decide if Cr Phillips continues as Mayor.

Should she be re-elected, Cr Phillips would need the majority from the new council for another term as Mayor.

“I am intending to stand. I will be throwing my hat in the ring,” Cr Phillips said.

“I have really enjoyed my time as Councillor and I have enjoyed my time as Mayor even more.

“It will be up to the new group of seven to pick the Mayor.”

Cr Barber told the Mail-Times his current term would be his last.

"I've made my decision and it is: I have served my four years and its time to move on to to other things.” Cr Barber said.

"I've got other things going on in my life right now and serving another four years would impeded on them.”

Cr Barber encouraged anybody with an interest in standing for council elections to talk to councillors. 

"I'd definitely recommend people give it a go,” he said. 

“You should talk to any of the councillors first to bet a real idea on what it is like to be a councillor.

"People have trouble getting their head around the time commitments and the responsibilities."

The Horsham Rural City Council election will be held on October 22, and candidates can nominate to stand from September 15 to 20.

Cr Mark Radford said he had decided to run for a third term on council.

“It is a big commitment by the whole family,” Cr Radford said.

“It has been a wonderful life experience.

“It has also been a time of learning for me, a real privilege.” 

Cr Sue Exell said she was undecided at the moment on whether to stand again.

Cr Tony Phelan said no comment.

Crs Pam Clarke and David Grimble did not respond to a request to comment.

Cr Barber stood for election in 2012 after spending 24 years as a a building design consultant.

He told the Mail-Times in 2012 that he nominated to give a greater voice for businesses on the council.

"We need to take every opportunity to ensure that we promote our region and canvass the advantages of living and working in our region,'' Cr Barber said in 2012.

Cr Barber has five children with his wife Leann, was raised on his family farm at Wail, and attended school in Dimboola.

The 2012 Horsham council saw a lot of new faces enter the chamber after Crs Bernard Gross, Gary Bird, Lindy Muller and then-mayor Mandi Stewart stepped down.

The six chief executives of Horsham, Hindmarsh, West Wimmera, Yarriambiack, Northern Grampians and Buloke municipalities have offered assistance to prospective candidates.

Horsham Rural City chief executive Peter Brown said the municipalities had a strong interest in ensuring that there is a solid field of candidates contesting the 2016 elections.

Mr Brown said candidates should learn about time commitments, responsibilities and council plans.

Information on standing for election to council is available on the Municipal Association of Victoria website.