Tegan Swan re-announces tilt for Mayor as Rob Gam enters the fray

Re-announcement comes after confusing turn of events in May when prominent Northern Beaches voice left another ticket before it was unveiled.

Tegan Swan has now formally launched her campaign for Mayor.

There is movement in the Coffs Harbour political landscape with one current councillor kicking off their campaign for Mayor while a familiar name joins another ticket.

Current Coffs Harbour City Councillor Tegan Swan has re-announced she will run for Mayor at the same time the Together We’ll Fix It team announce Rob Gam will be joining their ticket.

Initially slated to run on the Together team with their mayoral candidate Rodger Pryce, Ms Swan withdrew herself from the ticket just days before their campaign launch after a misunderstanding over the order of nominees.

Now, some three months later, Ms Swan has re-launched her campaign. Ms Swan was keen to point out that given her age compared with many others in local government, she “was in this for the long haul” and it appeared her primary focus is staying involved with Council — in any capacity.

Tegan Swan has officially launched her campaign for Coffs Harbour Mayor.

“I would love to be Mayor this time but if that doesn’t happen... I would happily have another term as a councillor,” she said.

Cr Swan was first elected in 2016 and has previously served as the Deputy Mayor.

Ms Swan also gave her thoughts on the postponed poll, a decision by the state government that has not been greeted by unbridled enthusiasm among candidates.

“My thought was thank goodness, because I genuinely love being a councillor and am not looking forward to the election,” she said. “To continue to be a councillor for a little bit longer – I was actually grateful for that opportunity.”

“Given the current situation we find ourselves in, local government elections are probably not highest priority on the list and that stability of leadership is probably important as well.

“I think it was the right decision.”

The 'Together we'll fix it' team Tammy Mills-Thom, Nikki Williams, John Lardner and Rodger Pryce. Photo by Janine Watson.

Meanwhile, former airline pilot Rob Gam is the latest candidate to put their hand up for a spot on Council, joining Rodger Pryce’s Together ticket.

Mr Gam’s name will be familiar to many, with the retired airline pilot’s family heavily involved in the Coffs Harbour business community.

The Gam Centre occupies a prime piece of CBD real estate on the corner of the Pacific Highway and West High Street and his mother Kay Gam waspart of the consortium, along with Mr Pryce, who developed Coles on Harbour Drive.

So far there are five candidates who have announced they will run for mayor, Labor’s Tony Judge, The Greens’ Jonathan Cassell, Dean Evers, Mr Pryce and Ms Swan.