By XAVIER SMERDON
THE race for who will be Wyndham’s next leader has been blown wide open with current Mayor John Menegazzo announcing he will not run for another term.
Councillor Menegazzo said he had enjoyed his time as Mayor but would be stepping aside to make more time for his family.
“Unfortunately we’ve all got family and business commitments and Wyndham deserves someone who can give the job 100 per cent,” Cr Menegazzo told Star.
“As you know family comes before anything else and I just can’t give the time that the job needs and deserves.”
Cr Menegazzo said he would like the freedom to travel with his family next year.
So far it has become a three horse race for the top job, With councillors Kim McAliney, Bob Fairclough and Shane Bourke putting their hands up.
Both Cr McAliney and Cr Bourke have held the role before, with Cr Bourke holding the position a record five times.
Cr Bourke said the biggest challenge for whoever becomes Mayor is population growth and the complications it causes.
“I think I could bring stability to the job again and I really enjoy bringing the community closer to the council and the council closer to the community,” Cr Bourke told Star.
“I like to think people have trust in me and I’m willing to take on whoever I need to in order to get the best result for Wyndham.”
Cr Fairclough, who has held the office of Deputy Mayor this year, said greater advocacy was needed.
“We’ve got big challenges to manage the growth in Wyndham,” Cr Fairclough said.
“We need to engage the public in how we should manage the growth.”
