Family and friends of Springfield ward councillor Sam Aziz applauded as he was voted in unanimously in a special meeting at the council chambers last week.

Cr Aziz, who has been a councillor since 2008, said his first experience with civic life was 23 years ago while he was in a week-long leadership course as part of his studies.

"I admired the work that a city council does and met the mayor and wondered one day if I could aspire to that.

"This is a position that has tremendous meaning for me, both professionally and personally."

His parents are Coptic Christians and migrated from Egypt to Australia in 1983 to avoid persecution. "[Being mayor] is a position not available to me in my country of birth. This is a position based on merit, not any exclusionary considerations."

Cr Aziz's wife, two sons and mother watched from the gallery as he was nominated to the mayoralty by outgoing mayor Shar Balmes and deputy mayor Wayne Smith, who defeated a challenge by Cr Judy Owen to stay in the position.

Cr Smith had been considered a likely candidate for mayor but declined to nominate after taking up a teaching position at the Monash Medical Centre. "There was a lot of speculation I was going to run and until a week ago that was my intention," he said.

Cr Balmes later said she stepped down to focus on her family and Four Oaks ward. "The year was inspirational and exciting, and also exhausting. My experience was that there were areas in my life where I completely failed for a year, and I'm looking forward to getting those back.

"In a four-year council term, there are others who want the opportunity to be mayor and they should have that chance."

She said one of her proudest achievements was securing the $24million pre-election pledge by the Coalition to help clean up the Stevensons Road landfill. Cr Balmes said Cr Aziz's strategic outlook would make him an excellent mayor.