I was disappointed to read about the circumstances surrounding the election of Byron Shire’s new deputy mayor.
Mayor Sarah Ndiaye raised concerns about Councillor Jack Dods’ availability following the birth of his twins, despite his assurance that he had the time and commitment to continue in the role and had not missed a Council or committee meeting.
I couldn’t help wondering what the reaction would have been if the situation were reversed and a new mother who felt she was fully capable had faced similar questions about her ability to fulfil her responsibilities.
There is also the question of political balance. Having an independent deputy mayor alongside a Greens mayor provided some diversity in Council’s leadership. We now have Greens councillors in both positions.
To have the argument framed around capability to do the role due to parental responsibilities does not pass the pub test. We should be encouraging new parents who wish to take on leadership roles, not making assumptions about their capacity to serve. And surely there is value in maintaining political diversity in Council’s leadership. Both principles deserve greater consideration when making decisions about who represents our community.
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. 
