There was no rest for the weary as newly elected Armidale Dumaresq Councillors met on Monday evening for an informal meet and greet session at the council chambers.
They include five re-elected councillors, Jim Maher, Herman Beyersdorf, Colin Gadd Rob Richardson and Chris Halligan, with newcomers Laurie Bishop, Margaret O’Connor, Jenny Bailey, Andrew Murat and Peter O’Donohue.
ADC General Manager, Shane Burns, welcomed the ten newly-elected Councillors to their official roles.
“We look forward to working with the Councillors and have a successful partnership in managing the assets, facilities, finances and other aspects of our local government area,” said Mr Burns.
“Council also thanks the outgoing Councillors Peter Ducat, Paul Harmer, Brian Kelly, Dorothy Robinson and Bruce Whan for all their hard work over the last term. I wish them all good luck in their future endeavours,” said Mr Burns.
It will be straight to business this week, with councillors electing the Mayor and Deputy Mayor at a meeting on Friday, with former Deputy Mayor Jim Maher making his intensions clear for the top job early in his election campaign, along with Herman Beyersdorf.
“I have put my hand up for the Mayor’s role, I have been eight and half years on council, with four years as Deputy Mayor and filled in for the Mayor on numerous occasions,” said Jim Maher.
“I have had the experience and I polled extremely well at 1457 primary votes. I wasn’t above the line and I was second last on the ballot paper, so people sought me out and I had a lot of encouraging comments from the community.
“This is in the hands of my fellow councillors, with others intending to run, but I believe I have the best credentials for the job with the experience behind me.
“I do believe that you need a steady hand at the helm, somebody who understands the role and functions of the position.”
