AFTER watching 15 mayors take the robes during her 15 years on Maribyrnong Council, Catherine Cumming has finally landed the role.
Cr Cumming was elected unopposed at last night’s Maribyrnong Council meeting to swear in the new councillors, the first time the long-standing independent has been afforded the honour.
The ALP’s traditional domination of numbers has given it the power to hold onto the mayoralty, but with independents now outnumbering ALP councillors four to three, Cr Cumming has finally realised her dream.
SEE: ALP stranglehold broken, mayor dumped.
“I have been waiting for a long time for this,’’ she said.
‘‘It goes to show that some things are definitely worth waiting for. I’m proud to become mayor on my own two feet and based on my experience and merit.”
Entering her fifth term on council, Cr Cumming assumes the role from her brother John who was dumped from the council at the election after finishing fifth in the new Yarraville ward.
“It’s fantastic that we’ve got a new independent majority on the council, it will benefit from much knowledge and the experience of the three returning ALP councillors,’’ she said.
Cr Cumming said the new council’s key priorities would be long-term rate relief for the community, improved safety through expansion of CCTV, sustainable planning and development, better public transport connections and a multi-level car park in Footscray.
Other aims include an improved Tottenham station, a new senior citizens centre in Footscray, the revitalisation of Braybrook and assistance for the long-term unemployed by providing more education and training opportunities.
“All of this can only be achieved if we as a council work together and as the mayor it will be my first and foremost focus,’’ she said.
Newcomer Grant Miles was elected unopposed as deputy mayor.
