Coffs Harbour City Council candidates list for the December 4 election
See where you can vote and find out everything you need to know about all the candidates vying for nine spots on Coffs Harbour City Council.
Coffs Harbour
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The NSW Local Government elections will be held on Saturday, December 4 but early voting has already opened.
See where you can vote in our comprehensive list:
Coffs Harbour candidates
Some groups came out early including the Rodger Pryce “Together, we’ll fix it” team and Jonathan Cassell’s Greens.
Others kept their cards close to their chest including current councillors George Cecato and Sally Townley who revealed their teams in recent weeks.
The entire list of candidates and their groupings, in ballot paper order have now been released:
Group A Michael Joseph Adendorff, independent
– Michael Joseph Adendorff, Korora
– Jennifer Lee Dowd, Coffs Harbour
– Corey Grace Glover, Coffs Harbour
– Phillip Bruce Neuss, Coffs Harbour
Mr Adendorff is a current councillor and was contacted to supply more information about his team.
Group B, Tony Judge, Labor
– Anthony (Tony) Judge, Woolgoolga
Tony Judge publicly announced his candidacy for the positions of mayor and councillor in 2020.
He has been actively involved in community and policy issues since he contested the state election in 2019.
– Julie Elizabeth Hendy, Coffs Harbour
Julie Hendy is a retired neuropsychologist who has lived and worked in Coffs Harbour for almost 20 years.
Her professional background includes a stint as head of Psychology at what is now the Westmead children’s Hospital.
Ms Hendy has a strong interest in better services for West Coffs Harbour.
– Angela Rosalind Mansell, Korora
Angela Mansell comes from a strong background in marketing.
She has a real passion for sensitive development, allowing us to keep what we value as we grow into a bigger community.
Her guiding principle is ‘keep what we love, build what we need’.
– John Marsh, Toormina
John Marsh is a retired food technologist with experience as a councillor on Blue Mountains City Council.
Mr Marsh has a strong belief in the power of community and the need for the council to really engage with community groups like sporting and cultural clubs.
Group C, Paul Amos, independent
– Paul Amos, Coffs Harbour
Mayoral candidate Paul Amos is the current deputy mayor and has five years of experience on the Coffs council.
He has a Bachelor of Business and certificate in mediation and dispute resolution.
Over the years he has worked primarily in the family run business operating the Bailey Centre.
He is currently on the Jetty Foreshores Committee.
– Scott Wolgamot, Coffs Harbour
Scott Wolgamot has been involved in volunteering throughout his 38 years in Coffs including the P & C of Coffs Harbour Primary School, Coffs Swimming Club, soccer and volleyball club committee involvement.
His work background is in engineering and agriculture.
He is a big believer in the healthy lifestyle and connections that sports can help to create and enjoys hiking and mountain biking around the region.
– Julie Sechi, Coffs Harbour
Julie Sechi has lived in Coffs for more than 30 years and has had a variety of roles where communication has been the central focus of her position.
This has included roles in recent years connecting with local businesses.
– Helen Oliver, Coffs Harbour
Helen Oliver has followed council meetings closely for many years and now feels compelled to get involved.
Her work history is with TAFE and school administration.
She maintains involvement currently with Coffs Community Transport and the Soup Kitchen.
Group D, Jonathan Cassell, The Greens
– Jonathan Cassell
Mayoral candidate Jonathan Cassell is a high school teacher and is putting his hand up for election for the first time on a platform of environmental and social justice.
Mr Cassell is involved in a number of community groups including the local boardriders association, Landcare and the Coffs Coast Climate Action Group.
He ran for The Greens in the 2019 state elections.
– Natalie Deanne Stevens, Sapphire Beach
A previous councillor on Pittwater Council and employed in community services, Natalie Deanne Stevens brings a wealth of experience as a candidate.
She has a professional background in advocacy and working with vulnerable groups.
– Timothy Nott, Coffs Harbour
An environmental scientist, Tim Nott is well recognised for his strong understanding and experience in public policy at all levels of government.
He has a Bachelor in science and Graduate Diploma in Marine science and Management.
He would like to improve the council’s biodiversity and farm management.
– Maureen Burgess, Coffs Harbour
Since moving to the area in 1982 with her young family, Maureen Burgess has been involved in a number of sectors and involved in the community through sporting groups, school music and reading programs and community theatre which has remained her most enduring interest and she has performed in a number of local productions.
Group E, John Singh Arkan, Woolgoolga, independent
Mayoral candidate John Arkan is currently in his third term as a councillor.
He operates a food van at markets across the region including his home town of Woolgoolga.
He has also worked as a real estate agent. He is Australia’s first Sikh councillor and ran for the federal seat of Cowper in the 2016 election.
Mr Singh was contacted, via the email listed on his candidate application, for more information about his running mates but he did not reply.
His teammates are:
– Htun-Htun oo from North Boambee Valley
– Naomi O’Connor from Toormina
– Jasmine Lifen from Sandy Beach
Group F, Sally Townley, Bellingen, independent
Sally Townley has been a councillor for nine years and is proud of her achievements which she said included the conservation of important natural areas such as North Emerald Beach; advocating and assisting community support for tunnels in the Coffs Harbour Bypass and advocating for stronger development standards to protect waterways from the impacts of intensive horticulture.
– Geyne Feeney, Woolgoolga
Geyne Feeney is passionate about affordable housing and has seen first-hand the crippling shortage across the region.
He wants to see a considered and balanced approach to town planning
He has been strongly involved in the local surf life saving community, having been a member of Woolgoolga SLSC since he completed his Bronze Medallion in 2008.
-Brigit Mackenzie
Brigit Mackenzie is well known in the Coffs Harbour disability sector and has had an adult daughter with a disability living in a fully supported villa in Coffs Harbour for the past 14 years.
Ms Mackenzie was very involved with the National Disability Insurance Scheme rollout in this region.
She is also secretary of Pacific Bay Resort Strata and is excited about Russell Crowe’s film studio proposal at Pac Bay.
– Carolyn Heise
Carolyn Heise is a registered nurse and has enjoyed a career as a health service leader.
She was director of nursing and midwifery at Coffs Harbour Base Hospital until 2019 when she was diagnosed with cancer.
She is now cancer free and working to give back to her community in a variety of roles including as a director on the Board of the Cancer Council of NSW and acting as a corporate coach.
– Ellena Cheers-Flavell, Sawtell
Ellena Cheers-Flavell is passionate about the environment and climate action and moving towards a sustainable future.
She wants to raise awareness of the impacts of climate change and show how action on a local level can make a difference globally.
She believes the community should strive for equal opportunities for women and to encourage young women to have their voices heard.
Group G, George Cecato, Korora, independent
George Cecato has served five years as a councillor and said his decision to run for mayor came after much deliberation.
He intends to run a positive campaign, focusing on policies that will support local businesses, address housing availability, improve critical infrastructure and deliver big projects.
His team is knows as Coffs Coast First.
– Luke Hartsuyker, Coffs Harbour
The former federal MP acknowledged his candidacy may be a surprise to some, but said his commitment to Coffs Harbour had never dulled.
He retired as Cowper MP in 2018 after almost 17 years in politics.
He is currently on the board of the Mid North Coast Area Health District and is Chair of the Australian Government’s Regional Telecommunications Review.
– Jesse Young, Sawtell
Jesse Young has extensive experience as an Australian Government policy adviser in the portfolios of communications, employment, education, and sport.
He currently works in the residential building industry, while also serving as a volunteer in a faith-based youth program.
His family has connections to Coffs Harbour going back over 100 years.
– Amy Hodson, Boambee
Amy Hodson is an engineer with a history of delivering energy projects and is currently studying a PhD in social science.
– Paul-Thomas (PT) Clarke, Boambee East
PT Clarke is a well-known local business owner and entrepreneur.
He’s been involved in small business since his teenage years and is passionate about supporting the local small business community.
Group H, Gregory Renet, Coffs Harbour, Liberal Democrats
Gregory Renet has lived in the Coffs Harbour area on and off since the 1980s and attended Jetty High.
He permanently relocated to Coffs Harbour in 2018 and is a partner at Coffs Coast Real Estate.
The majority of his working life was either in the Military (Army) or the Commonwealth Public Service.
Mr Renet is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party where “the key take away is: I believe in personal responsibility”.
He has many years of managing teams, facilities/properties and projects both large and small including airports, wharves, commercial property and public housing.
Supporting Gregory Renet for the Liberal Democrats is Craig Webber
Group I, Rodger Pryce, Independent
Rodger Pryce is the mayoral candidate on team Together, we’ll fix it.
He is well known on the Coffs Coast as a successful long term local businessperson, having lived in the region for 45 years.
He has a long list of community contributions on his resumé, including being a past committee member of the council’ s CBD Strategic Planning Committee.
– Nikki Williams, Coffs Harbour
Nikki Williams is a successful, well known CBD businessperson.
The third-generation local has spoken out about issues impacting business owners in the CBD.
– Rob Gam, Sapphire Beach
Rob Gam was born in Coffs in the 60s and is proud to carry the Gam family name. He worked in his parents store before training as a pilot, a career which started with Tom Strickland’s flying school in Coffs, spanning over 40 years commercially from general aviation to airlines.
He says change needs to take place only where it is wanted and needed and not just for the sake of change.
– John Lardner, Nana Glen
John Lardner is captain of the Nana Glen Rural Fire Service and the Coffs Harbour Citizen of the Year.
He lives rural, works in Coffs and loves his Harley.
– Tammy Mills-Thom, Korora
Tammy Mills-Thom is a fourth generation local, being a member of a well-known family.
She has a comprehensive list of achievements, including being a manager of the iconic Coffs Harbour Zoo, was a prominent presence in the past for Coffs Coast Tourism and a has long-held an interest in the arts.
Group J, Tegan Swan, Woolgoolga, independent
Current councillor Tegan Swan is putting her hand up again for re-election.
She has been on the council for five years – two of those as deputy mayor.
During her time she has pushed for greater community engagement with council projects and decisions; at times taking to social media to talk about contentious projects like the Cultural and Civic Space (recently renamed Yarrila). In her first term she received the Ministers Award for Women in Local Government.
Those on her ticket are:
– Patrick Mullan, Woolgoolga
Patrick Mullan is a teacher and has volunteered for a number of local organisations. He is heavily involved in Surf Life Saving and is a retained firefighter with Fire and Rescue NSW. He was awarded Young Citizen of the Year for Coffs Harbour a few years ago.
– Meena Johnson, Coffs Harbour
Meena Johnson works for an NGO service that supports children and young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. She came to the Coffs Coast from Lithgow in 1999 and says she is passionate about two things: housing and homelessness and domestic and family violence.
She has worked for almost 22 years in the housing and homelessness sector and has been homeless and experienced domestic violence in the past.
– Troy Robinson, Coffs Harbour
Troy Robinson is a proud Gumbaynggirr man. Born at Coffs Base Hospital he grew up in Sawtell. He is the Cultural Director for Bularri Muurlay Nyanggan (2 Path Strong) Aboriginal Corporation. He is passionate about creating pathways, opportunities and positive ripple effects through culture and education.
He has a Cert IV in indigenous Leadership, Cert in Governance and has worked with Attorney General’s Department and the Southern Cross University.
– Kareena Johnson, Woolgoolga
Kareena Johnson is Meena‘s daughter. The 27-year-old has worked in the community services sector for almost five years. She has been involved in the Youth Homelessness Representative Council and was previously the Youth Representative on Multicultural NSW Regional Advisory Committee and Member of the Headspace Advisory Reference Group.
Her goal is to learn with community and lead with purpose.
Ungrouped candidates
– Donna Lee Pike, Moonee – affiliation: independent
The civil celebrant from Moonee is new to politics.
Her candidate information sheet notes she is a member of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party. She says she wants to run as mayor because she is fearless, stubborn and will stand up for what is right.
Ms Pike is passionate about helping Coffs Harbour recover from the effects of the pandemic.
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