‘Hand on heart, not a stalling tactic’: Cr explains election plans

“I don’t use social media whatsoever. I don’t believe the truth is represented in some of those forums.”

There are only eight Coffs Harbour City Councillors after Jan Strom retired based on doctor's orders. Retired businessman and Coffs Harbour deputy mayor George Cecato (middle at top) has a “very inactive” LinkedIn account and avoids social media.

Some current Councillors have indicated ‘the end of June’ as their deadline to decide if they will run again in the September elections.

A number of new candidates have already declared their intentions and the Advocate is attempting to speak with all current Coffs Harbour City Councillors to see what their plans are.

Several people including Jonathan Cassell, Rodger Pryce and Tony Judge have put their hand up to run for Mayor. Hope for the Homeless founder Dean Evers is also standing

Mayor Denise Knight says she honestly hasn’t decided yet and that she will probably make a decision by the end of this month or in early July.

Cr Paul Amos has indicated he will run again – so too has Cr Tegan Swan.

Recently we spoke with deputy mayor George Cecato and he cited personal reasons for not making his mind up yet.

“I am waiting for the outcome of a personal matter and I can honestly say – with my hand on my heart – it is not a political stalling tactic.”

He is hoping to make a decision by the end of the month or early July and that “crunch time is early August.”

The NSW Electoral Commission website lists July 26 as the day formal lodgement of nominations open.

Close of nominations, and close of registration of candidates and groups, is noon August 4.

A Facebook forum for the elections which appears to favour one candidate turned nasty recently with current Councillors, with the exception of Tegan Swan, criticised for not yet declaring their intentions.

Cr Cecato could not comment on this as he has never had a Facebook account.

“I don’t use social media whatsoever. I don’t believe the truth is represented in some of those forums.”

The retired businessman has a “very inactive” LinkedIn account and avoids social media.

George Cecato (second from the right) is on the Jetty Foreshore Project Steering Advisory Committee. He is pictured here with Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh, Minister Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey, Cr Paul Amos and Commodore John Wait at the announcement of the committee.

“I don’t believe in the constant clicking, clicking.”

He came to Australia from his home country Argentina in his 20s, and has never lost his accent.

“I was told by a neurologist at a conference once, that if I had been a little bit younger – say fifteen or sixteen – I would have lost the accent but I was too old.”

He has been in Australia for 51 years, 31 of those in Coffs Harbour.

It is Cr Cecato‘s first term and he ran on a platform of bringing the voice of business to council.