Mayor Sarah Ndiaye (Greens) sought to have the election of the deputy mayor position be voted on at the latest Byron Shire Council meeting on Thursday, 17 September. Ndiaye told the meeting that while councillor Jack Dods (independent) had done a good job as deputy mayor over the last two years, she felt it was ‘fair to share this role around and to give the opportunity to somebody else who may be a bit more available.’
Councillor Dods has become a father in the last year and Cr Ndiaye said she had felt she was unable to reach out for support because of his parental commitments. She also said she had suggested the role to new Cr Peter Doherty (who was absent from the meeting) but he’d said it was too soon.
Cr Dods and Cr Elia Hauge (Greens) both put up their hands for the role, with Cr Dods pushing back against the mayor’s assertion that he’d been unavailable.
‘Over the last six months, since my lovely wife and I welcomed twins, I haven’t had as much time to commit to my other commitments in life outside of family,’ said Dods.
‘I’ve still had a reasonable amount of time to work in my personal employment, and to work on Council business. I haven’t missed a single Council meeting or committee meeting since then. I only took one month off when the twins were born.
‘I find it a bit disappointing that throughout the last six months, it hasn’t been me saying I’m not available. It’s been you [Mayor Ndiaye] saying you don’t feel comfortable reaching out to me.’
Cr Dods continued, saying that he wanted to continue in the role and had the capacity and commitment to do so.
Addressing councillors, Cr Hauge thanked Cr Dods for his work and said that it was less about Cr Dods and more about what she had to offer the role, and that she wanted to step up.
‘Over the last two years I’ve had the opportunity to build increasingly strong connections across our community,’ she said.
‘I’m really excited at the opportunity to participate more fully in that relationship between Council and what happens day-to-day within Council and form that bridge between Council, laws, and what happens on the ground.
‘I’m really committed to the opportunity to participate more fully in the conversations around those key programs, key policies, key projects,’ she said.
The election was by secret ballot with Cr Hauge elected as deputy mayor by five votes to four.
The position of deputy mayor is for 12 months.
Youngest Deputy Mayor
Responding to questions from The Echo, deputy mayor Hauge said, ‘I’m delighted and humbled to serve as Byron Shire’s Deputy Mayor. It’s both an honour and a responsibility, and I look forward to working with our community and supporting Mayor Sarah Ndiaye over the coming year.’
‘Local government works best when it reflects the community it represents. At 31, I’m the youngest person to serve as Deputy Mayor for Byron Shire. I hope this encourages more people who don’t often see themselves in council chambers to get involved,’ she said.
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. 
