Nearly every council mayor and deputy mayor across the New England will front their fellow councillors for a fresh two-year term this month, with the first result already in at Tamworth Regional Council.
Cr Russell Webb and Cr Jeff Budd were re-elected mayor and deputy mayor at Monday night’s meeting, Cr Webb’s fourth term at the helm since he first took the role in January 2022.
Cr Webb was challenged by Cr Mark Rodda and Cr Marc Sutherland, who split the opposing vote two apiece, leaving Cr Webb the winner five votes to four. Cr Sutherland also challenged Cr Budd for deputy mayor, with an identical 5-4 result.
The outcome extends a voting pattern that has defined the current council. Almost every vote at Tamworth Regional Council over the past two years has landed on the same 5-4 split, and Monday’s meeting suggests little will change over the next two.
Most New England councils give their councillors, rather than voters, the job of choosing the mayor and deputy, for a two year term. The timing isn’t up to individual councils: state government rules require these mid-term mayoral elections to be held in September, meaning eleven mayoral contests will be decided across the New England in the space of a few weeks.
The next test comes at Liverpool Plains Shire Council on Monday, 14 September, where a challenge is also considered possible but not yet confirmed.
Narrabri Shire Council and Gunnedah Shire Council both meet on Wednesday, 16 September. There has been no clear signal of a challenge at Narrabri, but a contest has been confirmed in Gunnedah, with Councillor Ann Luke confirming she will challenge both Mayor and Deputy Mayor spots. But it’s the friendliest kind of contest, befitting the heavily female dominated council.
“Colleen Fuller is an amazing person and has done a great job for our community,” she said.
“I’m running as a kind of succession plan, to ensure there is continuity in our leadership.”
This is Cr Fuller’s sixth term on council, and she stated at the time of the 2024 election that this would be her last term on council. 24 years of service is an extraordinary commitment, and Cr Luke was clear that her challenge was about offering continuity, not challenging the popular local figure.
“I just don’t want to have a situation where everybody’s new,” Cr Luke said.
In addition to Cr Fuller’s expected retirement, Deputy Mayor Kate McGrath is likely to be endorsed to contest the seat of Tamworth for the Labor Party for the March state election. The odds of McGrath stealing the seat from incumbent Kevin Anderson, once considered a pipe dream, are narrowing rapidly as One Nation splits the conservative vote. The popular and effective local leader is respected across the political spectrum, and is likely to draw a high proportion of preferences, making a win possible – which would mean neither the mayor or deputy mayor would be available in the next term.
Luke says she has the skills to be Mayor having served as president of the Chamber of Commerce for various periods in the last 30 years, and has a goal to encourage more people to get involved in council.
“That’s what I most strive for, to have an environment that is conducive to good people in the community coming forward and being a councillor, making a difference and being in an environment that they feel comfortable to stand as a councillor.”
Moree Plains Shire Council meets the following day, Thursday, 17 September. Cr Susannah Pearse and Cr Wayne Tighe are not expected to be challenged for mayor and deputy mayor. Cr Kelly James, who challenged Cr Pearse for the top job two years ago, has said on her Facebook page that she will not be challenging this time, and will be overseas for the meeting.
Three councils meet on Wednesday, 23 September. Cr Kate Dight is expected to be returned unopposed as Inverell Shire mayor, as is Cr Bronwyn Petrie at Tenterfield Shire Council. Armidale Regional Council is also considered a possible challenge, though no clear challenger has emerged there either.
Two more follow the next day, Thursday, 24 September. Cr Tiff Galvin is expected to be returned unopposed at Gwydir Shire Council. Glen Innes Severn Council is shaping as one to watch: Mayor Margot Davis faces a challenge that some see as an opening created by the council’s ongoing Performance Improvement Order, though she and her deputy, Cr Carol Sparkes, are expected to be returned.
The last council to vote is Walcha, on Wednesday, 30 September, where a challenge is also considered possible.
Uralla is the exception to the September rush. It is the only council in the New England with a popularly elected mayor: Cr Robert Bell was elected unopposed at the 2024 general election for a full four year term.
Like what you’re reading? Support New England Times by making a small contribution today and help us keep delivering local news paywall-free. Donate now