IT was interesting to read the comments about Middlesbrough voting to keep its directly elected mayor (Echo, Sept 28). There even appeared to be cross-party concerns.

The main fear was too much power being wielded by one person under the elected mayor system.

I could not understand the comment from one of the promayor candidates that they’d managed “to get a strong majority against the odds”.

The only long odds were that, just as in the Police and Crime Commissioner elections, many people would bother to vote.

Hence I believe the Australian compulsory voting system should at least be tried. These ridiculously low turnouts – just 15 per cent in the mayoral referendum – are not good for democracy.

Coun George R Dunning (Lab), leader, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.