Cr Mulino, whose Edrington Ward takes in parts of Berwick and Narre Warren, confirmed last Thursday he was one of the three candidates for the seat of Kilsyth, which includes the suburbs of Lilydale and Croydon.

Cr Mulino, 40, said he would immediately resign from the council if he won nomination on April 19.

"It was a difficult choice but I felt if I am successful, it wouldn't be fair to my constituents to stay on," he said.

"I think it creates a conflict."

In a new twist, Labor is trialling a selection process just for this seat in which party supporters, not members, will pick the candidate.

In a move similar to the US primaries, supporters listed on the electoral roll for Kilsyth can register to vote for their preferred candidate.

Although saddened by the possibility of resigning from the council and moving from his Berwick home, Cr Mulino strongly believed "the new process is worth supporting".

"I am very interested in issues like economic management and job creation which I could contribute to on a state level."

Asked if ratepayers should feel annoyed about the prospect of him departing 18 months into his four-year council term, Cr Mulino said he had contributed strongly to two budget reviews.

"It won't cause additional costs as a countback will be held to determine my replacement based on votes at the election.

"I didn't foresee this kind of opportunity."

Casey sources said the municipality's Citizen of the Year, Judy Owen, had a strong chance of replacing Cr Mulino if a countback went ahead.