Ben Franklin’s glowing endorsement of our new Mayor, Michael Lyon, is something to be concerned about. Lyon was a Green then turned Independent and now a close buddy of the National’s Franklin.
Lyon has already demonstrated his alliance with Franklin at the expense of our State elected member Tamara Smith. Time and time again Lyon (and Richardson previously) have arranged photo opportunities that blatantly ignored Ms Smith.
I hope the newly elected councillors take note of this creeping National Party influence on the mayor and the Council.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
