RECENT turmoil in the Tenterfield Shire Council chambers has moved several councillors to adopt a wait-and-see attitude on whether they will again run for office in their respective wards when the current term ends in September this year, although others will not seek re-election after many years of service.
Mayor Toby Smith, who has been a member of council for 13 years, said he did not want to comment on his plans at this stage, because it was still seven months until the election.
Councillor Peter Petty said he found this current term, his first, daunting to begin with but he has grown with it and in fact wished he had even more time to devote to his duties.
Now wearing the deputy mayor hat, he will line up for re-election in A Ward come September.
“I want to keep improving the situation in council, particularly in the ward I represent,” Councillor Petty said.
“I’d like to end up with a council that works together. It does now for the most part, although there are some (councillors) who don’t so much. But we’re a democracy and they’re entitled to their opinion, although they are stalling progress to an extent.”
Three-term and sometime deputy mayor John Macnish has yet to decide whether he will stand for re-election in B Ward.
“I’ll wait and see who else stands, how my health is going and whether I still feel committed enough,” he said.
Tom Peters said he had concerns with some of his fellow councillors and is not happy with the direction council is heading.
“We’ve got a good temporary general manager now for a few months. Once he goes we’ve got to get another and hopefully it will be one that will steer council in the right direction.”
Cr Peters said he will choose whether to stand for re-election later on in the year, but concedes that his advancing years (at 72 years of age) will have bit to do with his decision.
George Hardcastle, and A Ward councillor, says at this stage, he is unlikely to run again for council.
Cr Hardcastle suffered a “slight” heart attack last year.
“I’m feeling a lot better than I was,” he said. “But I think it’s time for some fresh ideas.”
He said he had not yet made a final decision.
C Ward’s Brian Murray is the newest cab on the rank, having only joined council in September following a by-election. Cr Murray said he hadn’t given a thought on standing for re-election and would wait and see what happened.
After racking up 48 years in local government this year in one capacity or another, D Ward councillor Lucy Sullivan feels she’s served her time and at this stage does not intend to run for re-election.
After working for local council for 31 years, Cr Sullivan served 17 years as a councillor, four of those as deputy mayor and another 4.5 as mayor before opting to not seek re-election to the top job.
“That’s long enough,” she said. “It’s time to move on and do other things. Things would have to change dramatically for me to reconsider.”
First-term councillor in D Ward Lawrie West’s response when asked if he would stand for re-election was ‘no comment at all’. Cr West is one of the councillors calling for the appointment of an administrator to oversee council operations.
Another first-term councillor Mike Petrie in E Ward said he hadn’t yet thought about the re-election but descibred his first term as “as bloody disgrace” citing ICAC investigations and frustration with making any progress.
“I might stand again, but I don’t know if it’s worth the effort,” Cr Petrie said.
Cr Petrie said he would wait and see if a new general manager can sort out the issues currently plaguing the council.
“This job should be a piece of cake and something I enjoy doing.”
Cr Petrie said despite the efforts of the two general managers he has worked with since elected, nothing’s been achieved.
“Maybe a new general manager can keep the place going.”
Cr Phil Yates said he had not yet decided on whether he would stand again for council.
“I’m seeing if we can get to the bottom of a few things that are happening,” Cr Yates said.
“I’m still making up my mind.”
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