Labor’s Mark Greenhill and the Liberal Party’s Chris Van der Kley were elected Blue Mountains mayor and deputy mayor at the council meeting on Tuesday, September 27, despite a last minute push by the Greens for a role.
As predicted in last week’s Gazette the pair retained their positions for the now two-year term roles.
Newly elected Greens candidate for Ward 1 Kerry Brown put her name forward for the deputy mayoral role, but only received one vote in support – from her fellow Greens member, Brent Hoare from Ward 2.
Ms Brown said she was disappointed that despite Labor and Greens preference deals in the lead-up to the election, Labor chose to back a Liberal for deputy mayor and also a male in the role.
“It is disappointing that Labor councillors voted for a very conservative Liberal man over a progressive Greens woman as deputy mayor,” she told the Gazette after the meeting.
“What is their rationale for voting as a block for Liberal Councillor Chris Van Der Kley after preferencing Greens in his and my ward in the council election and relying on Greens preferences to defeat the Liberals in the state and federal elections?”
Ms Brown said she was also surprised that nominees were not given opportunity to speak “despite the fact that many of the councillors voting on the decision have only just met me”.
“With all due respect to Mark Greenhill, I wonder why Labor has passed up the opportunity for the first female mayor in the Blue Mountains. Romola Hollywood is a hard working, popular and able councillor.”
Cr Greenhill told the Gazette it was “not a political decision, it was one based on experience”.
"We are both about creating a better Blue Mountains and bringing people together,” Cr Greenhill said. “We represent stability, unity and experience.”
“I waited for the best part of a decade to run for the deputy mayor because it is the second most senior position and you are expected to be a mentor.”
Cr Greenhill said he expected Ms Brown had “an enormous amount to offer and will be a massive contributor to council”.
