Post-council election gaffe-fest

It didn't take long.

Hutchville's local rag today lists our new-look council, complete with the three new faces.

In the same story, comes a gem of a quote from a successfully re-elected councillor - a person known to me and whom I quite like, but who really should have taken a look in the mirror before dropping this clanger:

It is a well-balanced council that represents a good
blend...snip

'Well-balanced' my middle ear!

Three (that I know of, could be more) out of the nine councillors are members of the Australian Labor Party (including the councillor who gave the above quote!!), and another is a member of The Greens - an outfit even more left of the ALP. I call that bordering on 'stacked', not 'balanced'.

Now, I know...people will say that party politics should be put to one side in local councils - and I totally agree - but, notwithstanding, to call this council 'well-balanced' is like calling John McCain 'middle-aged'.

NSW Council Elections - Results

The counting and final distribution of preferences in my LGA (local government area) were finalised today.

Out of 9 vacancies on council, the voters of this LGA have elected three new faces. Personally, that is a disappointingly modest number. I was hoping for at least four.

Of the three new faces, two of them got my vote.

But, out of the six re-elected councillors, only two got the nod from me.

The mood out there last Saturday was decidedly tense. But was it a mood for change? Council had become complacent in many areas, especially in regards to planning, and had made some very strange decisions that were seemingly at odds with council's own previous rulings.

I have spoken to several people since the voting took place, and I know many of these folk shared my concerns, and were also hoping for four or five new faces on council.

We will have to make do with three.

But, with one of the three newbies being a member of The Greens, I think there will be some very interesting debates in council over the next four years.

Local council election gets passionate

I was astounded to read in my local newspaper today of a verbal altercation between Hutchville's mayor (standing again for council) and our local state member of parliament (a member of the National Party), as to our local member's right to hand out how-to-vote cards for an Independent candidate for council, who is also a member of the National Party.

I really don't think this is a matter people need to get on their high horse about.

Our MP should be fully entitled to hand out how-to-votes for anyone they like, considering, as my MP said - and it is an important point: there was no National Party ticket line. OK, perhaps our MP should have removed their ID badge. In my view, though, our MP was, for all intents and purposes, assisting at the polling station as a private citizen. They just happen to be our local member.

Our mayor needs to take a cold shower.

As a very interested political observer, I was staggered (not necessarily in a good way) by some of the results of this election. Nevertheless, my hope is that all councillors work together in an unprejudiced manner for the betterment of this wonderful part of the world.

Post Script: I am not a member of the National Party.