Coffs Harbour mayor candidates in December council elections
With current mayor Denise Knight stepping down there are plenty of candidates in the running to become Coffs Harbour’s new mayor. Here’s who they are and what they stand for.
Coffs Harbour
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The elections for Coffs Harbour City Council will take place on December 4.
Coffs Harbour mayoral candidates in the order they will appear on the ballot paper are as follows:
Tegan Swan, Woolgoolga – affiliation: none listed
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.
George Antonio Cecato, Korora – affiliation: Independent
Current councillor George Cecato is running for mayor with the support of high-profile running mate and former Cowper Nationals MP Luke Hartsuyker.
His candidate information sheet notes he is a Member of the NSW National Party although he is running as an Independent.
Mr Cecato has served on Coffs council for five years and is running a campaign focusing on policies that support local businesses, address housing availability and improve critical infrastructure.
Michael Joseph Adendorff, Korora – affiliation: Independent
Current councillor Michael Adendorff is a lawyer in private practice.
He moved to Australia from South Africa in 2000 and still has the unmistakeable accent.
In late 2019, prior to the elections being postponed due to Covid, he signalled his intentions of running again.
Mr Adendorff owns a number of properties in the CBD and has spoken about a need to revitalise the area.
Anthony (Tony) John Judge, Woolgoolga – affiliation: Labor
If elected Mr Judge will be a new face on council. He ran as a Labor candidate for the seat of Coffs Harbour in the 2019 NSW State election.
He lists his values as compassion, equality and a better life for working people. He is a volunteer crisis support worker at Lifeline.
It was the Woolgoolga Dam water sell-off plan that finally convinced him to run for election.
Prior to retiring he worked in the Commonwealth Government for 25 years.
Rodger Kevin Pryce, Brooklana – affiliation: none listed
Another new face is Rodger Pryce.
He is a retired businessman and for the last eight years has been focused on operations at his Angus beef cattle stud at Brooklana.
If elected Mr Pryce said he would focus on addressing the housing crisis and would engage a team of forensic accountants to “see why we pay some of the highest rates in NSW”.
Mr Pryce has lived in the region for 45 years and was a past committee member of Council’s CBD Strategic Planning Committee.
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.
Paul Vincent Amos, Coffs Harbour – affiliation: Independent
Mr Amos is a current councillor and was elected deputy mayor in September.
He is in his first term on the council and he is one of the 12 members, along with fellow councillor George Cecato, of a steering committee advising future development of the Jetty Foreshore Precinct.
In August last year he sensationally challenged the state government over ownership of a strip of land at the Jetty based on the little-used law of adverse possession, known colloquially as squatter’s rights.
Sally Jane Townley, Bellingen – affiliation: Independent
Sally Townley has been on the council for nine years and says her goals are transparency in decision making, responsible spending and excellence in governance.
She ran as an Independent candidate in the state elections in 2019.
Ms Townley has a focus on environmental protection and has campaigned for greater regulation of the intensive agriculture sector.
She also believes council should play a role in developing affordable housing.
John Singh Arkan, Woolgoolga – affiliation: Independent
Mr 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.
John Arkan is Australia’s first Sikh councillor.
He ran for the federal seat of Cowper in the 2016 election
Jonathan William Cassell, Emerald Beach – affiliation: The Greens
Mr Cassell is putting his hand up for election to the council for the first time on a platform of environmental and social justice.
He is a high school teacher and 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.
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