AS TAMWORTH councillors prepare to determine their next civic leader on Tuesday night, the mayoral election in a neighbouring shire has been plagued by controversy.
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Tamworth’s nine councillors will appoint the mayor and deputy mayor in this week’s chamber meeting, with a four-way battle likely to unfold in the race for deputy.
Incumbent Russell Webb looks to be up against Mark Rodda, Helen Tickle and Jim Maxwell, while sitting mayor Col Murray is, at this stage, uncontested for the top job.
It comes as long-term Gunnedah councillor, Colleen Fuller, condemned the council ballot criticisms of her supporters in the wake of her losing out on mayor last week.
Cr Fuller has backed new Gunnedah mayor and first-term councillor, Jamie Chaffey, in the position but was scathing of actions by a fellow councillor who called prior to Wednesday’s ordinary meeting in an attempt to persuade her not to run for mayoral positions.
“I don’t think it was appropriate for a councillor to call me like that,” Cr Fuller said.
“I had as much right as anybody to stand [for mayoral positions].”
Her failed bids for both mayor and deputy positions, despite gaining the majority of councillor votes at the September 10 election, had not gone unnoticed in the community.
Many took to social media to voice their support for Cr Fuller, but some posts overstepped the mark.
“It was a bit ugly,” she said of the social media commentary. “I want people to be mindful of others.”
Cr Fuller, a prominent voice in the Gunnedah shire and big supporter of outlying villages, asked if people wished to have matters addressed at council, to speak with her directly through the appropriate channels.
“Tell me what needs to be done and we’ll see what we can do,” she said.
“This is my town, I was born here and I’m very passionate about it.
“I thank everybody who has stood by me in recent weeks but it’s time to move forward.
“Our town is too important to not be getting on with the job.”
Cr Chaffey will serve a two-year term as Gunnedah shire mayor alongside his elected deputy, Cr Gae Swain.
Cr Chaffey said his priority was to ensure shire residents could “live, work and play in a free and safe environment”. “I have strong desire to serve the community and the expectation is I deliver,” he said