The Kyogle Council has seen a fractious last term with their General Manager Graham Kennet being sacked (during a second attempt) in December 2023 and replaced by Brett Kelly. Mr Kelly had no council management experience and after just seven weeks was off to another job. So the question is who will you vote for?
Kyogle voters will not only be asked to vote for their preferred councillors this election they are also being asked to vote in a referendum.
Referendum
The referendum is asking voters if they would like to reduce the number of wards from three to two and to change from the councillors electing the Mayor to a popularly elected mayor.
A reduction in wards to two would mean that each ward would elect four councillors (eight councillors in total) rather than the current situation where each of the three wards elects three councilors (nine councillors who then elect the mayor).
Mayor – popular or not?
Surrounding shires have a mix of both popularly elected mayors (eg Byron, Ballina) and councillor-elected mayors (eg Tweed, Clarence) with the majority of Tweed councillors having recently chosen not to look at a move towards a popularly elected mayor.
The referendum question is a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response and the question will be:
‘Do you favour the election of the Mayor by electors for a four (4) year term with the number of Wards reduced from three (3) to two (2), each Ward comprising of four (4) Councillors, plus a popularly elected Mayor?’
Councillors
For each ward voters will be given a ballot paper that lists the candidates for their ward. You then list the councillors from one (1) in order of your preference. If you don’t mark more than one your vote will have no further value if your preferred candidate doesn’t get elected, so make sure you keep going and number all the candidates you think are worth voting for.
Ward A
Candidates running for Ward A are: Kieran Somerville, Doug Layton, Naomi Worrall, Brett McNamara, and Janet Wilson.
Ward B
Candidates running for Ward B are: Robert Cullen, John Burley, Olivia Taylor, Neil Summerville, and Glenn Robinson.
Ward C
Candidates running for Ward C are: Earle Grundy, Ian Murrell, Tom Cooper, James Murray, Danielle Mulholland, Simon Dejoux, and Robin Harley.
The Echo sent out a range of questions to potential candidates and their responses are below:
Ward A
Doug Layton
Doug Layton was born in Kyogle Shire and has told The Echo that he has decided to put his hand up as a councillor for the Kyogle Council as he is willing to listen and learn. He said Kyogle’s ‘infrastructure cannot support a rapid increase in housing as both sewer and water would need major upgrades’.
Read his full response here.
Brett McNamara
Brett McNamara said that his national parks career spanning forty years gives him experience is operating in local government arenas, managing large budgets, setting and achieving the big picture. With a professional skill set, an appreciation for good governance I’m about moving forward, not dwelling in the past.
Read his full response here.
Ward B
Robert Cullen
Robert Cullen is a sitting councillor for Ward B and actively campaigning against the Kyogle Council’s referendum for the loss of one ward and to have a popularly elected mayor.
Mr Cullen told The Echo that he is proud and passionate about the Kyogle area and that he wants to encourage and facilitate primary production and tourism. Greater support for volunteer groups, the backbone of small towns.
Read his full response here.
Neil Summerville
Neil Summerville wants to ‘reduce red tape for farming and industry to ensure young people growing up in the area have good jobs and opportunities available to them’. With around thirty years experience working on a range of boards in teh farming sphere he want ‘to be involved with, and give leadership to, the community on many issues’.
Read his full response here.
Glen Robinson
Glen Robinson is running for Kyogle Council ‘because I’d like to see a council that is open and transparent and in touch with the community where everyone knows what’s going on and trusts their councillors. I’m the only candidate for Ward B that lives in Kyogle.
Read his full response here.
Ward C
Ian Murrell
Ian Murrell is running for Kyogle Council so that he can help the community. His experience in nursing and sitting on a body corporate and aoard of a food co-operative will help him fulfill the role of a councillor.
Read his full response here.
Danielle Mulholland
Danielle Mulholland says that ‘we need a group of Councillors who can work together collaboratively. Diverse opinions around the table are a good thing – it means we are representing a broader cross section of the community’. Having served three terms on Kyogle Council and before that, a career in the Queensland state government for many years she says she has the skills to ensure effective representation on the council for her constituents.
Read her full response here.
Simon Dejoux
Simon Dejoux says his nearly 40 years experience in government representing people from rural and remote communities in areas as diverse as air transport, aeromedical and air rescue operations, rural and remote education, community engagement, drought and more gives him the experience to effectively take on the role of Kyogle councillor.
Read his full response here.
