Kevin Knight to run again for Tea Tree Gully mayor

After three years plagued by controversy and a bombshell investigation into his behaviour, the state’s most contentious mayor is hoping to rise again.

Controversial incumbent Tea Tree Gully Mayor Kevin Knight is seeking re-election despite unresolved complaints against him and a self-described “three years of hell”.

Whether or not he would throw his hat in the ring to be elected as mayor for a third time was a mystery as he did not answer previous questions from the media.

But when official mayoral candidates were unfurled at 4pm on Tuesday, a process introduced by the Electoral Commission of South Australia in the 2022 Local Government elections, Mr Knight’s name was there.

Mr Knight told The Messenger there was “still much I want to achieve on council”.

“The City of Tea Tree Gully, my family and myself have endured three years of hell,” he said.

Tea Tree Gully incumbent Mayor Kevin Knight at the Tea Tree Gully council chambers. Picture: Mark Brake

“There was never any sexual harassment from me as mayor and never would be.

“I have years of experience, both good and bad, and I have a lot to contribute to the debate about future of local government and high rates.”

Mr Knight took aim at “party politics” polluting local government claiming “ratepayers deserve much better”.

Speculation he would fade away from the role arose from 35 individual breaches of the council’s code of conduct during his last term as mayor.

Thirty-one of those breaches stemmed from a report from Norman Waterhouse lawyers which found Mr Knight referred to a woman as dressing like a “$2 tramp” and engaged in “inappropriate conduct” towards a female councillor.

The findings resulted in the council requesting Mr Knight resign and him subsequently being the subject of four motions of no confidence after he refused to do so.

Mr Knight has continually denied any wrongdoing and said he intended to fight to clear his name.

Rose Morton-Hall, who rallied against Mr Knight and protested to ask him to pay back legal fees to investigate his code of conduct complaints, would be one of his opponents in the mayoral race.

Former Campbelltown Council deputy mayor and local businesswoman Marijka Ryan, who’s running platform in part was based on her not being Mr Knight, was officially unveiled as another contender.

Corey Hawkvelt, the husband of incumbent councillor Jessica Lintvelt, and Steven Angeli, a former mayoral aspirant, were revealed as the other candidates.