The dispute between Shellharbour City councillor Kellie Marsh and Deputy Mayor Paul Rankin will continue at next week's council meeting, when Cr Marsh moves a no confidence motion in her former Liberal colleague.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cr Marsh said it was not a decision she had taken lightly and was based on "a number of incidents", but the "icing on the cake" was a recent public meeting, where Cr Rankin "threatened" his former running mate Harry Gooden during a debate over the City Hub project at Oak Flats Neighbourhood Centre.
"The way he addressed the public that day was not befitting of a deputy mayor; he threatened an 82-year-old senior citizen," Cr Marsh said.
"The office of deputy mayor has been brought into disrepute.
"Any councillor that does not support the motion is condoning this behaviour."
Cr Marsh said should the motion be successful next Tuesday she would expect there would be a fresh vote for deputy mayor.
Cr Rankin described Cr Marsh's motion as "pathetic".
"She is bitter I didn't support her for deputy mayor ... it is a vendetta," Cr Rankin said. "I can't apologise any more than I have to that guy [Mr Gooden], he is Lib and a Kellie Marsh supporter.
"I have apologised and I meant what I said - they are not prepared to accept the apology and let it go.
"I apologised publicly at the council meeting and then went up to him to personally apologise.
"As far as I am concerned this is just a political manoeuvre by Kellie Marsh."
