Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery says he expects ratepayers to be “pissed off no end” that they have to head back to the polls following Labor councillor Chris Connor’s resignation.
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“They’re not going to like that they have to go back to the polls within such a short time, and not only that, there’s the cost of the by-election,” he said.
With the full election last September costing the council $960,000, Cr Bradbery said it was reasonable to estimate the single-ward by-election triggered by the vacant seat may cost ratepayers another $300,000.
“That’s $300,000 we are now going to lose out of the budget,” he said.
Cr Bradbery said he did not know if Cr Connor has been aware that he may take up a new job as a school principal in Tamworth when he was elected last September, but said he believed running for council was “a commitment to the city” which councillors should stick out for a full term.
“I just think personally, that when you do stand for a position, you have a real responsibility to represent well, and also stick in there and see it through,” he said.
“It’s very hard – and it’s obviously proven to be hard – [for Cr Connor] to represent Ward 3 and his obligations as a councillor, and also fly in and fly out, I guess. I think Chris thought he could manage it, but obviously it’s just been too much.
“It’s a shame that it happened within 12 months of an election, and I think it’s going to piss of ratepayers no end.”
Cr Bradbery said other councillors had been shocked to hear of Cr Connor’s resignation.
As for how the upcoming by-election – to be held before Christmas – would change the council, Cr Bradbery said Labor, which hold’s six positions now, would retain “a strong grouping” regardless of the result.
“There’s a strong likelihood they will retain the seat, but at the same times, it’s up to the electorate, and whether they are going to punish Labor for forcing them back to the polls,” he said.
He also said it was an interesting time for grassroots politics in Dapto, following the NSW Government’s announcement that it was eyeing land in the area for a jail.
“This is an opportunity for some of those people [involved in the jail campaign] to come forward and stand for council,” he said.
“The jail is a good example of where people did emerge who were very articulate, and I’m hoping there will be some of those who want to stand for council.
“That’s the point of being a councillor, it’s not to represent a political party, it’s to represent the views of the community.”
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
