Report on vote for new Mayor for Yarra City Council (Melbourne), by SP Cllr Stephen Jolly.
The Ceremonial meeting of Council was held last night. Councillors, some of whom can be pretty quiet all year over issues affecting residents, were scuttling around like people possessed in the run-up to the vote, many keen to get their noses in the bucket of the perks and prestige of Mayor or Chairs of Committees.

I turned up to the Richmond Town Hall meeting at 6pm and sat in my designated seat. In front of me were 200 residents waiting for the meeting to start. However my fellow Councillors were no-where to be seen. They were hidden away in the Lounge area of the Town Hall locked 4-4 in a vote for Mayor (Cllr Morton backed by the 3 ALP Councillors and Cllr Fristacky backed by the 3 Green Councillors). In hindsight, I should have stood my ground and made them come out into the open and have a democatic vote in front of residents.



However I was called into the Lounge to cast my deciding vote. As you will know, I only Cllrs Malthzahn and Barbara had my open support, but neither were standing. I had to make a choice between the two independents. I thought that Cllr Fristacky would be more likely to try and take on the State government in an election year and she responded to the SP questionaire of Mayoral candidates with concrete demands eg for an indoor sports center for Yarra (an SP demand). So therefore, Cllr Fristacky is now Mayor Fristacky.



I was elected onto the Finance Committe (this year I have been on the Planning and Community Development Committee). I went onto Finance in order to get more involvement in what will be the mother of all fights over the budget in 2006. The SP log of claims with community groups will lead to a better co-ordination of rank and file demands on next years budget, compared to this year when only the North Richmond public housing estate really got their act together.



Will see you all on at the SP end of year social, Saturday 17th December from 7pm, Old Colonial Inn, 127 Brunswick St, Fitzroy. Speakers are from Collingwood Action Group, myself, Atherdon Gardens Public Housing estate. Music from Tim Scanlan, 2005 Australian Busker of the Year. $10/$5 concession includes meal. Tickets available on the door. Door prizes, competitions and more. Don’t miss it!