Unley Council chooses Peter Hughes as acting mayor after Lachlan Clyne resigns
UNLEY Council has chosen a new mayor, after former mayor Lachlan Clyne wrapped up his tenure on a most unusual note.
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UNLEY councillor Peter Hughes will take on mayoral duties until the local government elections in November, after the position was vacated by Liberal candidate Lachlan Clyne.
Unley councillors on Monday might voted to appoint Cr Hughes as acting mayor for the next 10 months.
It comes after the resignation of Mr Clyne on January 24, who is running for the seat of Badcoe in the March state election.
Cr Hughes, a retired primary school principal and Australian Taxation Office leader, told the Eastern Courier Messenger he was honoured to be elected to the position.
“I have had several experiences in my working life of taking on something dramatically new so for some people this is a dramatic change, but for me it is routine,” Cr Hughes said.
“I’m not looking for us to continue in a stable manner that is all lovey-dovey. I want to make progressive decisions and be brave for the future.
“Any organisation that does aim for stability for too long starts to fall behind.”
He said he did not intend running for the position at November’s council elections.
Councillors Jennie Boisvert, Don Palmer and Michael Rabbitt all unsuccessfully nominated for the position.
Cr Michael Hewitson was also elected deputy mayor, a position vacated by Cr Palmer last week.
Cr John Koumi, who started on the council in 1981, resigned at the same meeting due to time restrictions.
“Competing demands have finally pushed me to review my priorities,” Cr Koumi said.
“I have spent much of my adult life as an elected member and I have concluded that it is now not unreasonable for me to focus my energies elsewhere.”
The council will be two elected members short until the November elections due to the promotion of Cr Hughes and resignation of Cr Koumi.
Mr Clyne left the chamber and said “I’m out” while pretending to drop a microphone.
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