Cade Lucas
Councillor Daria Kellander broke down in tears after being elected Hobsons Bay mayor on Friday night.
The Altona ward representative, one of just two returning members from the previous council, was elected unopposed at the meeting on November 22, with first time councillor and Altona North representative, Rayane Hawli, elected deputy.
An emotional Cr Kellander fought back tears as she addressed the chamber following her election.
“Thank you tonight for your trust in electing me as mayor,” she said to her fellow councillors, noting that five of them were newly elected and five, including herself, were women, the highest level of female representation in council’s history.
Cr Kellander said that it was now up to the new council to deliver for the community.
“This year sets the foundation and the vision for what we deliver for our community, in line with what our community has told us they clearly want. A council that always puts our community first,” she told the chamber.
“A council that enhances our service delivery and strengthens and supports our local economy. One that protects and preserves our natural environment such as our parks, wetlands area, lake, creeks, and foreshore areas that make Hobsons Bay so unique. A council that is open and transparent. One that acts with integrity.”
During its previous term Hobsons Bay council was beset by infighting, with Cr Kellander herself suspended for a week in March this year after being found guilty of misconduct.
Then-councillor Antoinette Briffa accused Cr Kellander of not treating other councillors and the mayor with fairness, objectivity, courtesy and respect in an all staff email relating to mayoral elections sent the previous October.
Cr Kellander was also an outspoken supporter of residents at Williamstown’s Techno Park estate which the previous council had attempted to evict.
The new mayor didn’t address either matter in her speech, but said voters clearly wanted councillors to focus on their concerns rather than each other’s.
“We heard loud and clear during the election that our community want council to get the basics right,” she said.
“With cost-of-living pressures hurting people, it is important that we work hard to deliver the best value for ratepayers’ money.”
