Ex-Greens senator Robert Simms eyes off Adelaide City Council return with plenty of seats to be vacant

FORMER Greens Senator Robert Simms is eyeing off a return to the Adelaide City Council, as it emerges that nearly a third of the council choose not to contest this year’s poll, including former Deputy Lord Mayors Natasha Malani and Megan Hender.

Robert Simms, formerly a Greens Senator and an Adelaide City Councillor, could bid to return to the latter role. Picture: Mike Burton

FORMER Greens senator Robert Simms could make a bid to return to Town Hall.

But two experienced councillors, both former deputy mayors, will not run again.

Mr Simms was elected to the Adelaide City Council in 2014 but stood down less than a year later for a place in the Senate following the resignation of Penny Wright.

The 34-year-old, who failed to be re-elected at the 2016 federal election and finished third at the March state election for the seat of Adelaide, said he was seriously considering nominating for the November council poll.

“I’ve had a lot of people in the community encouraging me to run,” he said.

“I really enjoyed my time on council and from my perspective, it’s important that there is a strong, progressive voice.”

Adelaide City Councillor Natasha Malani will not stand for re-election. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Up to a third of the city’s councillors will not contest this year’s elections. Former deputy mayors Natasha Malani and Meghan Hender have confirmed they will not stand for re-election. That could increase to four - or a third of the current 12-member contingent - if Alex Antic’s senate bid for the Liberal Party is successful.

Ms Malani, named in The Advertiser’s Top 50 Rising Stars in South Australia in 2013, polled the most votes of any councillor at the 2014 poll but said she would now focus on her business.

She said she would like to mentor other young candidates who were interested in contributing to the growth of Adelaide.

“Being on council has been a great privilege for me,” she said. “I’ve spoken to a number of new candidates that are very interested in running for council and that’s brilliant because the time to think about it is now.

“But we are not actively encouraging younger people with good ideas to run for council, there are too many barriers for people to have a career and be on council at the same time.”

Meghan Hender hoped for some young blood to enter the council. Picture: Sophie Perri

Ms Hender said she believed two terms were enough, and also hoped for some young blood to enter the council.

“I think it’s time for someone else to have the opportunity,” she said.

First-term councillor David Slama could not be contacted but he has previously said he would not run again.

Those who said they would stand again were Anne Moran, Sandy Wilkinson, Houssam Abiad, Phillip Martin, and Priscilla Corbell-Moore.

Lord Mayor Martin Haese will stand again for the top job while Deputy Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor has ruled out a tilt for lord mayor but will nominate as a councillor.