Editorial –
With the declaration of the Central Coast Council election results, we now have our 15 councillors ready to take on the challenge of governing our region.
The next crucial step will be for these councillors to elect a mayor at their first official council meeting on Tuesday night.
But it begs the question: Why can’t the citizens of the Central Coast elect their own mayor directly, like many other major local government areas?
Before the amalgamation, Wyong Council held a referendum that supported a popularly elected mayor, giving residents a real say in who led their community.
So why didn’t we have this referendum for the Central Coast this time around?
Instead, we were presented with a half-baked referendum, concocted by administrators, about their preferred reduction in councillor numbers.
Sure, that passed, in the wake of the administrators laying all the blame for the previous council’s downfall squarely on the councillors themselves.
However, this narrative is only partially true.
The reality is that the council’s executive team and the state government share equal responsibility for the failures of the past.
What the Central Coast has desperately needed all along is stable and clear leadership, the kind of direction that a popularly elected mayor could provide.
Now, we must pin our hopes on these newly elected councillors to find among themselves a leader who can unify this diverse body, strengthen the council’s internal culture, and rebuild the organisation’s reputation and productivity.
This region deserves leadership that reflects the will and vision of its people, and the best way to achieve that would be through a popularly elected mayor.
CCN wants to hear from you, our readers.
Who do you think would make the best mayor among the newly elected councillors?
Take part in our online survey, and we’ll pass on your opinions to the councillors themselves as they consider who should lead the Central Coast for the next two years. It’s time to let your voice be heard!
David Abrahams – Managing Editor