Tea Tree Gully Council: Kevin Knight mayoral challengers emerge
The first candidate for mayor of Tea Tree Gully has been announced, and other contenders are emerging. They share one major claim: They’re not Kevin Knight, the embattled incumbent.
North & North East
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The first Tea Tree Gully mayoral candidate has put their name forward to claim the position currently filled by embattled mayor Kevin Knight, with high-profile campaigns set to focus on there being a change at the top.
Former Campbelltown Council deputy mayor Marijka Ryan has become the first to officially announce she would be taking a shot at the top spot.
The election is likely to be among the most anticipated in the state with Mr Knight having faced motions of no confidence, been found to have breached the code of conduct 35 times, and the Local Government Association recommending he resign.
Mrs Ryan, from Dernancourt, said the findings against Mr Knight were an incentive to get back into local government.
“The mayor’s behaviour over the last two to three years ... has made a laughing stock of local government across the board and brought the council into disrepute,” she said.
“I won’t deny that my decision to run was strengthened by the fact that this man has to go.
“Council needs a fresh new face and an outside person without any of the baggage attached to the events of the last few years.
“Above all it will be my mission to restore the faith and trust of the ratepayers who elect us and in their council.”
One ratepayer on social media suggested a “huge check” for potential candidates would relate to the past three years of council.
“(They’re) also not Kevin Knight,” he wrote.
“I look forward to seeing what other positives are on offer.”
Mr Knight has not confirmed if he will be running for mayor again and did not respond to a request to comment.
Mrs Ryan could face competition from former councillor and one-time king Liberal MP Paula Luethen-Soper.
When contacted by The Messenger Ms Luethen-Soper said she was undecided if she would run or not.
Current deputy mayor Lucas Jones, who became the primary spokesman after the council voted to strip Mr Knight of that role, was another that may end up running.
His candidacy would be a surprise to many with him having told open council it was a role he had not formally wanted.
Long-time state politician Frances Bedford was another possibility.
Ms Bedford said she had been contacted by several ratepayers asking her to run but would not say whether she would officially throw her hat in the ring.
Community advocate Rose Morton-Hall, who has consistently called for Mr Knight’s resignation and protested at a recent council meeting to get him to pay for legal fees spent on investigating him, said she was “toying with the idea” of taking on the mayoral role.
Current councillor Rob Unger last month told the council a “leadership vacuum” had emerged in TTG while councillor Damian Wyld said ongoing battles in the council chambers had impacted his feelings about local government.
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