Tea Tree Gully Mayor Kevin Knight won’t run for SA Best party after Nick Xenophon’s negative O-Bahn comments
AN Adelaide mayor has ruled out running as an SA Best candidate because of Nick Xenophon’s negative comments about the “brilliant” new O-Bahn tunnel.
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TEA TREE Gully Mayor Kevin Knight has ruled out running in the next state election as an SA Best candidate.
Mr Knight told the NorthEastern Weekly in November he had met with Nick Xenophon’s team at a potential candidate’s meeting and had been better than a 50-50 proposition of running.
“Easily, probably more,” he said.
However, Mr Knight has now ruled himself out of joining the SA Best Party, mostly on the grounds of Mr Xenophon’s comments about the new O-Bahn tunnel.
Mr Xenophon has said previously the tunnel was “something that has been a waste of taxpayers’ money when there could have been other resources it could have been expended on”.
“I flirted with the idea. I thought about it for quite a while,” Mr Knight said.
“I courted it seriously.
“Him rubbishing the O-Bahn tunnel, he’s poles apart from me.
“I couldn’t in all conscience run.
“He’s said at two public meetings it was a waste of money.
“It’s just brilliant — credit where credit’s due, the government has built some good infrastructure.”
He also baulked at the $20,000 sign-on fee to be a candidate, and a further $1000 in background checks.
He has also ruled out running as an independent and has his sights on the next council elections in November.
“I will run for mayor again,” he said.
“I’ve made my mind up. There’s a lot of things I’d like to see through
“There’s a few irons in the fire.
“I want to see the new council depot through. I’d like to see a decent art gallery.”