Mayor of Bunbury

THE new Mayor of the City of Bunbury is Gary Brennan after tonight’s count at the City of

Bunbury offices.

Mr Brennan was previously a City of Bunbury CEO for six years as well as a ministerial chief of staff in the state government to Bunbury MLA John Castrilli. 

During the campaign Mr Brennan listed his strengths as being in leadership, team building and community engagement.

The newly elected Mayor of Bunbury thanked his supporters and outgoing Mayor David Smith in his inaugural speech. 

"It's an honour to take on this responsibility and I am going to deliver the things I think Bunbury wants to have delivered through their Mayor."

"I am looking forward to working with a very dedicated team of councillors."

"I want to thank the people who supported me through the ballot." 

For the first few weeks of the campaign Mr Brennan and his team ran their campaign from North America as he was travelling.

Mr Brennan paid respect to outgoing Mayor David Smith and said it was "a tough job" and a very onerous task to be the Mayor of Bunbury.

Eight candidates ran for the position of Mayor in a tightly fought contest where Mr Brennan received 21.45 percent of the vote (1636) while Michelle Steck was second on 18.13 percent (1383) and incumbent Mayor David Smith was third on 17.95 percent (1369).  

7628 votes were returned in this election accounting for around 35 percent of the eligible voting population.  

Grab your copy of the Bunbury Mail this Wednesday to find out more about our new Mayor and his plans for the City. 

To see exactly how the counting of the votes in this year's election took place visit our live coverage pages which includes a photo gallery of the night's proceedings here. 

The City of Bunbury is a local government area in the South West region of Western Australia, covering an area of 65.7 square kilometres (25.4 sq mi) along the coast about 180 kilometres (112 mi) south of Perth, the capital of Western Australia. The City of Bunbury is one of four local governments comprising the Greater Bunbury sub-region. As at 30 June 2010, the City of Bunbury had an estimated population of 34,626.

Mayor of Bundaberg

MORE than 35 new mayors are expected to step into the roles, with Queensland’s peak local

government body pointing to “voter grumpiness” in the bush and upheaval in indigenous communities as counting continues.

Former Queensland police minister Jack Dempsey was among the new faces claiming victory in the aftermath of Saturday’s election. The newly-elected Bundaberg mayor, who secured 70 per cent from more than three-quarters of the tallied votes, vowed to set the national standard in running a local government and called on the State Government to make it more affordable to live in Queensland.

Mr Dempsey said he had been “unshackled” from a political party to focus on making the Bundaberg region one of the best in the country. He planned to boost local jobs and use the Bundaberg port to increase the agricultural economy of the region, which he said nets in $550 million a year in fresh produce. “There is enormous potential for our port to promote produce out of our region,” he said.

“I want to show all of Australia what a beautiful region this is. I want to have the best operating council in Australia which will boost our local economy.”

The local government shake-up which was expected to be smaller than the changes in the 2012 election result, was being witnessed more in rural communities.

“The voter grumpiness was in the bush,” Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive Greg Hallam said.

“We saw some really high-profile, long-term mayors like Rob Loughnan at Maranoa … some of the longer-serving people in local government lose their seats.’’

He said the turnover in the 17 indigenous communities was also particularly high .

There was stability in the southeast corner where voters backed incumbent mayors such as Ipswich’s Paul Pisasale and the Gold Coast’s Tom Tate.

Mr Hallam said the return of the leaders was a sign of confidence in the administrations.

“Tom Tate (Gold Coast), Graham Quirk (Brisbane), Paul Pisasale (Ipswich), Allan Sutherland (Moreton Bay), Mark Jamieson (Sunshine Coast), Paul Antonio (Toowoomba), they got very high votes – and most of their council was returned,” he said.

The City of Bundaberg was a local government area located in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, encompassing the centre and inner suburbs of the regional city of Bundaberg. The city covered an area of 95.5 square kilometres (36.9 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity in various forms from 1881 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils in the surrounding area to form the Bundaberg Region.

Mayor of Coffs Harbour

The Coffs Coast is a place very close to my heart, one in which my children grew up, I want to

see it grow and thrive for the children of the future.
I have lived in Sawtell with my husband Christopher for the past 32 years and am the mother of three children - Katherine, David and Amy - and the proud grandmother of two fantastic grandchildren. 

I am a Registered Nurse by profession and have worked both in the Emergency Department of  the Coffs Harbour Health Campus and, more recently, at Baringa Hospital.  
I am actively involved in current health issues, local theatre and many fund-raisers for the community.  You might say I am a bit of an all-rounder as I’m  interested in sport and promoting tourism in this wonderful area.  I work for the community by providing a different dimension to Council.

During my term, Council has achieved many of mine and the community’s  goals.  These include building a long-awaited state-of-the-art skate park, a revitalised boat ramp and a popular coastal walk. The transformation of the Jetty Foreshores is well underway while renewal of the  City Centre has begun, as well as many other projects of which I am passionate.  I am still working towards getting an entertainment centre up and running, which I hope will including a new library and art gallery.

The City of Coffs Harbour (Also known as Coffs Harbour City Council) is a local government area in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The area under administration is 1,175 square kilometres (454 sq mi), expanded in 2004 to take in parts of the former Pristine Waters local government area.

The administrative seat is located in Coffs Harbour; and the area is adjacent to the Pacific Highway, and the North Coast railway line.

The Mayor of the City of Coffs Harbour is Denise Knight, an independent politician.

Mayor of Wagga Wagga

CHANGE to Wagga City Council's leadership team was touted in the lead-up and delivered on Monday night.

Councillor Dallas Tout was elected deputy mayor unopposed at the council meeting, replacing Councillor Andrew Negline.

Mayor Rod Kendall withstood a challenge from Councillor Paul Funnell to retain his position at the helm for another 12 months.

Councillor Kendall won 6-4 in an open vote, with Cr Funnell backed by himself and councillors Negline, Yvonne Braid and Kerry Pascoe.

Councillor Julian McLaren was absent for the vote.

Moments after his victory, Cr Tout stressed leadership sat with the entire council, not the two individuals elected to lead them.

"To me the deputy mayor position, and the mayoral position in some ways, is more a representation than a leadership," Cr Tout told The Daily Advertiser on Monday night.

"People call them leadership positions, (but) I don't really do that.

"To me, the leadership still sits within the core group of 11 councillors."

Cr Tout, who works as a finance manager at Charles Sturt University, said the role was another step towards "correctly representing the feelings and the thoughts of the other councillors" regardless of the forum.

Having spent three terms on Gundagai Shire Council (GSC) - including time as deputy mayor - Cr Tout said he would use the relationships he has already forged with other councils to the city's advantage.

"With the local government review going on now, and what's going to happen there, part of that representation is all about relationships," he said.

"I think those kind of networks (developed with GSC) are going to help us moving forward in what's going to be very turbulent times in the next 12 months in local government regionally and across the state."

Cr Tout's wife, Janine, was surprised he was elected unopposed, but said he was driven when it came to local government.

Mayor of Hervey Bay

Mayor Chris Loft

Phone: 0418 227 142
Email: chris.loft@frasercoast.qld.gov.au

A Fraser Coast resident for more than 30 years, I have had experience as a small business consultant and accountant, and owned several businesses during that time.

I am excited at the potential for the Fraser Coast.  We are fortunate to have such diversity across our region and I am passionate about promoting an inclusive community which inspires confidence and boosts our local economy.

It is my goal over the next four years to build a better Council and look forward to working with the community to achieve our potential.

Mayor of Shepparton-Mooroopna

I am a long term resident and business owner, with a passion for the region and a commitment to make a meaningful contribution.

Cr Dennis Patterson
Cr Dennis Patterson
I am a team player with a community focus. I want to see Greater Shepparton become a regional powerhouse of country Victoria. I recognise that Greater Shepparton has a lot of good things to offer, such as our strong community, and our natural environment.

Committee appointments

Greater Shepparton Aerodrome Advisory Committee
Murray Darling Association
RiverConnect Community Advisory Committee
Shepparton Liquor Licensing Accord
Shepparton Showgrounds Advisory Committee
Tatura Park Advisory Board
Contact details

Phone: 0427 935 282
Email: dennis.patterson@shepparton.vic.gov.au

Mayor of Gladstone-Tannum Sands

Today I announce my intention to nominate for the position of Mayor of the Gladstone Regional Council at the Local Government election on 19th March 2016.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my role of Deputy Mayor, but a cross section of the community is asking me to step up and nominate for Mayor.

I believe after almost sixteen years' experience in Local Government, five of those years serving as Deputy Mayor, it's time.

My campaign will be based on the issues that many residents have raised with me.

I won't be campaigning as part of any team, but if elected as Mayor, I will closely and co-operatively work with all Councillors as chosen by the people.

During my time as Councillor and Deputy Mayor, I have always had the best interests of the community at heart, and that will continue should I be elected Mayor of the Gladstone Regional Council.

Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett.
Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett.
Brenda Strong
I have been fortunate to have learnt much from the three Mayors with whom I have worked since my election to Council in 2000, and each of them has impacted on my goals for the region in some way.

However, I pledge to provide the Gladstone Region with the change of leadership many residents are now seeking.

Over recent times I have had many pass the comment to me that as a Council we should be doing better.

Those comments have been part of my decision to run for the position of Mayor, and I give my assurance that I am dedicated and determined to deliver for the whole of the Gladstone Region.

Before making my final decision, I sought advice from several long term local identities from every area of the Region.

Each of those people has closely watched the changes in the Region and I greatly value every helpful view and opinion.

I believe the people are best served by all candidates showing respect and value for each other's skills, knowledge and beliefs, and that's what my campaign will reflect.

I have never, and will never participate in a negative, nasty campaign.

Regardless of what may be thrown at me I will remain positive and focussed on my priority goal, which is always striving to better the Gladstone Region.

Mayor of Port Macquarie

Peter Edward Besseling (born 8 March 1970) is an Australian politician. Besseling is

the Mayor of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, elected on 8 September 2012, as an independent candidate.Besseling served as Member for Port Macquarie between 2008 and 2011.

Prior to entering politics, he was a professional rugby union player.

As one of four children, Peter grew up with his family on a property north-west of Sydney along the Hawkesbury River.  His early working days were with an equipment rental company, moving from equipment service to management.

An introduction to rugby union led him to train with Sydney University, and a debut in First Grade that same year for the club.

In 1995, Peter and his wife Meaghan, moved west of Wauchope to Byabarra, in order to start a family and run a wholesale palm business.  A year later, rugby union turned professional and Peter took up a contract offer with the Brumbies in Canberra.

Having moved back to the Mid North Coast following the birth of his daughter, Peter assisted his rugby teammate Rob Oakeshott in his successful campaign to become the NSW Member for Port Macquarie, before again being lured south to run the Development Program for rugby union in Western Sydney, managing five development officers and playing for Penrith.

In 1999 and as captain of the Penrith team, Peter was selected for both NSW and for Australia A and capped off a wonderful year by winning the Ken Catchpole Medal for best Sydney premiership player. The following year, he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his services to rugby for his work with rugby development.

In 2001, Peter accepted a contract with IBM Japan and moved with his family to Chiba, just outside Tokyo, for three years.

Returning home, he teamed up once more with Rob Oakeshott to become his Senior Advisor and was then elected to the NSW Parliament in 2008 following a by-election for the vacant seat of Port Macquarie, which he held until 2011.

Peter was elected Mayor of Port Macquarie-Hastings in the 2012 Local Government Election.