The race to replace Cilla De Lacy as mayor of Nedlands is on, with the city’s deputy mayor, a former state election candidate and a Dalkeith-based councillor in the running for the city’s top job.
The race to replace Cilla De Lacy as mayor of Nedlands is on, with the city’s deputy mayor, a former state election candidate and a Dalkeith-based councillor in the running for the city’s top job.
That election, triggered by Ms De Lacy’s shock resignation in February, comes amid significant tumult at the city over the past six months, including the departure of the administration’s chief executive and the resignation of councillors Bill Hassell and Gordon Hay.
Ms De Lacy cited major frustrations with her role in her resignation letter, including what she characterized as systemic failures across the local government sector and an inability to drive significant, sector-wide change as mayor.
Those comments followed fierce criticism of the state government’s infill and density policies from several councillors at the City of Nedlands over the past four years, with former mayor Max Hipkins and Mr Hassell among the most vocal critics of changes to local planning schemes.
Fiona Argyle, Leo McManus and Noel Youngman have declared they will seek to replace Ms de Lacy at the June extraordinary election.
Ms Argyle, who was worked as a journalist, art curator and entrepreneur, contested the seat of Nedlands as an independent at the state election in March.
She polled 11 per cent of the primary vote and finished fourth out of seven candidates.
Her candidacy focused on issues such as planning, urban renewal and law and order, with campaign literature proclaiming the voters of Nedlands were being politically ignored by the incumbent, Bill Marmion.
She joins Leo McManus, who has served as a councillor for a more than a decade and is its current acting mayor, and Noel Youngman, who replaced Mr Hassell as a councillor in September and has previously served on council at the City of Vincent, in a three-person contest for the job.
Mr McManus, who also serves as deputy mayor, has represented the city's coastal ward, which takes in Mount Claremont and Swanbourne, during his time on council.
Mr Youngman, meanwhile, has represented Dalkeith since September; he was previously a councillor at the City of Vincent, representing Mount Hawthorn and North Perth, between 2007 and 2011.
If either Messrs McManus or Youngman wins the June special election, yet another vacancy will open on council, thereby triggering a special election to fill that seat.
It remains to be seen whether that resulting special election would be held on, before or after regularly scheduled elections for October 18.
The extraordinary election to replace Ms De Lacy will be held on June 18.
Read more about the issues and candidates in the City of Nedlands’ upcoming mayoral election in Business News’ May 31 edition.
