After 16 years on Ballina Council Jeff Johnson is retiring from the council playing field to concentrate on family and his solar and electrical business.
‘I’ve been asked quite a few times who my recommendations are for the upcoming Ballina Council election,’ he told The Echo.
So here are his recommendations on who to vote for and why.
This current Council, that has been dominated by the ‘Team Cadwallader’ group has at times been quite dysfunctional and very polarized. With Sharon Cadwallader as Mayor and three other Team Cadwallader Councillors (one in each ward) they have only needed the support of one of the other conservative-leaning Councillors to have a majority.
I think it says a lot that two of the existing Team Cadwallader Councillors are not standing after one term on Council and the other (Eva Ramsey) is standing as an Independent.
On the positive side I have had the pleasure to sit next to the current Green Councillors – B Ward Councillor, Kiri Dicker, and C Ward Councillor, Simon Chate, during the last term of Council. They have proven themselves to be hardworking, thoughtful and diligent with the way they research issues and make decisions. This is highlighted by them both having regular ‘listening posts’ where the community can come and meet them, ask questions, and find out what’s happening on Council. They have also provided extensive monthly summaries of what’s happening on Council and why they either supported or not supported certain policy positions.
For that reason, and my own personal focus on the environment and community infrastructure I’ll be supporting the Green Team. With a large number of independents with quite different political motivations and philosophy’s in my opinion the candidates below are my recommendations.
A Ward
- Erin Karsten
- Phil Meehan
- Maria Marshall
B Ward
- Kiri Dicker
- Andrew Broadley
- Eva Ramsey
C Ward
- Simon Chate
- Therese Crollick
- Lois Cook
Mayor
- Kiri Dicker
- Phil Meehan
- Andrew Broadley
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. 
