THERE will be a lot of familiar faces on the hustings during the Bundaberg Regional Council elections on March 19 this year.

Mayor Mal Forman confirmed last year he would stand for re-election, but he faces some tough competition after former Bundaberg Member Jack Dempsey announced he would stand as well.

Other candidates for the mayoralty are Troy Madle, Elise Cottam and Reid Schirmer.

Eight of the sitting councillors have confirmed they would be standing for re-election.

Only Danny Rowleson, the councillor for Division 6, has said he would step down.

Cr Rowleson said the main reason for deciding not to stand again was his health.

"I had issues with my health 18 months ago," he said.

He said Cr Forman and council CEO Peter Byrne convinced him not stand down then because it would have meant a by-election for his Division 6 seat.

Cr Rowleson's son Scott announced last year that he would stand for election in Division 6.

Councillors who will be standing again said there were exciting times ahead for Bundaberg, with some big projects on the way.

These would drive the region's economy and create jobs for locals.

Greg Barnes, in Division 5, said he was happy being a councillor.

"I'm talking to people about some significant projects at the moment," he said

.Division 2 councillor Tony Ricciardi said there were a lot of things happening that would really drive the economy, not just of Bundaberg but of the whole region.

Division 7 councillor Ross Sommerfeld said he would stand again because he intended to finish off what had been started.

"I want to see things get finished," he said.

Division 3 councillor Wayne Honor could not be contacted.