There
seems to be a rash of mayors and councillors who have recently sought and
achieved preselection for the next state election in March 2018. Local
government is being used by some as a stepping stone to preselection. The other
method seems to be working for an existing politician, as an office or personal
assistant, or through the union movement. I groan whenever I see the 'working
for an existing politician' as a stepping zone. These people often have little demonstrated
experience in grass roots politics. My fear with the Local Government method is
that in may end up bringing real politics into local government and in South
Australia, up until this time, it has largely been avoided. If you look at the
current politicians who owe their place to the union movement I don't need to
say more! This comes to our current mayor, Lachlan Clyne, he intends to stand
down on October and to resign in Jan 2018. This is a risky move; he might lose
the election for Badcoe and then not be mayor either! Nevertheless, he should
be commended for this as it is a step above what others in a similar position
are proposing to do.
If the mayor takes leave in October and resigns in January, will he be paid by council for 3 months while be campaigns for Ashford? Has he said if be will decline payment for 1/4 year?
ReplyDeleteI don't know but I would hope that it is without pay as the acting mayor should receive the allowance. He will be running in Badcoe which is slightly different to what Ashford is now.
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