Alexander Hyde to become the city’s next deputy lord mayor
Adelaide City Council will have a new deputy lord mayor next month – a historic move for the council.
City
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The new kid on the block at Adelaide City Council – Alexander Hyde – will be the district’s youngest ever deputy lord mayor.
At a council meeting on Tuesday night, previous deputy lord mayor Houssam Abiad announced he would not run for the position he has held since 2015, allowing Cr Hyde, 26, to step in.
Both Crs Hyde and Robert Simms – a former Greens senator – were in the running for the position.
The new deputy lord mayor, elected to council in 2018, is the youngest deputy lord mayor in a capital city in Australia.
Cr Hyde, who steps into the role on December 1, said his focus would be residential growth and attracting more businesses to the city.
He said he was “humbled” to have been selected as the city’s youngest deputy lord mayor.
“I think it a sign of where the council wants to take things, they want energy, they want enthusiasm and they want a fresh perspective to tackling old problems, and I feel … I have been able to show that,” Cr Hyde said.
Cr Hyde would also have to head the council’s Committee meeting.
Cr Anne Moran nominated Cr Hyde first, which he knocked back, but when Cr Abiad nominated him he accepted the role.
Cr Alexander Hyde was the president of the SA Young Liberals group young liberals and ran for a spot in Tea Tree Gully Council in 2014.
Cr Abiad said it was important to know “when to exit” and pass the baton to the “younger generation”.
“ My advice is to exercise restraint, be diplomatic and always have the city at the heart,” he said.
At the meeting, Mayor Sandy Verschoor thanked Cr Abiad for his contribution to the council in the role, which included abolishing outdoor dining fees this year.
Cr Anne Moran also nominated Cr Hou and Cr Khera who both declined the role.