Former Marion councillor Nick Kerry calls for Luke Hutchinson and Mayor Kris Hanna to resign
Marion mayor Kris Hanna says he will not resign for backing a colleague guilty of sending anonymous derogatory flyers about a political opponent — and says the victim finished his council term “in disgrace”.
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Marion mayor Kris Hanna has batted away suggestions he should resign for backing councillor Luke Hutchinson who pleaded guilty to sending derogatory flyers about a political opponent.
Former Marion councillor Nick Kerry called for the duo’s resignation on Friday after Cr Hutchinson admitted he anonymously mailed derogatory flyers about other candidates to voters.
Cr Hutchinson pleaded guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday to two counts of sending out unauthorised material during the council elections last November in breach of the Electoral Act.
Mr Hanna gave a character reference on Cr Hutchinson’s behalf to the court.
Candidates are required, by law, to include their name and address on any material provided to voters.
The former deputy mayor will be sentenced on October 16 and faces a maximum penalty of a $2500 fine.
Cr Hutchinson is believed to be the first person in South Australia to ever be charged with the offence.
The Advertiser understands the material targeted Mr Kerry, who was elected for a four-year term in 2014, and veteran councillor Bruce Hull.
“How can an elected member remain in office when he has pleaded guilty to a breach of the Electoral Act?” Mr Kerry asked.
“It was inappropriate for the mayor to provide (Cr Hutchinson) with a character reference.
“It is unprecedented in our state history that someone has pleaded guilty to this offence.
”It is indefensible and they should both resign.”
Mr Kerry said he was targeted because he was “outspoken” during his time on the council and that the election campaign in Marion was the “dirtiest and nastiest in the state”.
He said he disagreed with Cr Hutchinson and Mr Hanna on a number of council decisions in the lead up to the election including the council’s $5 million contribution towards the Oaklands Crossing upgrade.
He said Cr Hutchinson’s defence — that he did not put his name to the flyer because he wanted to avoid backlash — was “ridiculous”.
“Saying he wanted to have good relations with his colleagues is almost as funny an excuse as the dog ate my homework,” he said.
Cr Hutchinson’s lawyer, Tim Bourne, told the court on Monday that Cr Hutchinson was also suffering from anxiety at the time he mailed the material.
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However Marion mayor Kris Hanna said his former colleague has zero credibility.
“He finished his term as a councillor in disgrace. He had turned up drunk to a council meeting. He had made improper comments while he was a member of the planning assessment committee,” Mr Hanna said.
“He was found guilty of bullying another councillor and staff, so it’s a bit rich for him to be calling on people to resign.”
“A complaint hasn’t been made at this point about the content of the leaflets, so it is just the technicality of failing to put the name and address on the leaflets is the issue at the moment”
“I don’t expect anyone will be resigning”.
It is understood the flyers about the pair’s alleged bad behaviour and costs to ratepayers were mailed to voters in Cr Hull’s ward of Warracowie and Mr Kerry’s former ward of Woodlands.