Labor’s Pierre Esber elected Parramatta Lord Mayor after defeating Sameer Pandey

Parramatta has elected its third mayor in just four months – a result political sources claim emerged so the city’s MP could secure preselection in the 2027 poll.

Almost 25 years after first joining Parramatta Council, Pierre Esber is a first-time Lord Mayor. Picture: Fluential Studio

Parramatta’s new Lord Mayor Pierre Esber has denied claims caucus voted for him to become the third mayor in four months to ensure Labor could re-elect Donna Davis as the city’s MP in the 2027 state poll.

A divided Labor chose the veteran councillor to run for the mayor – ousting Sameer Pandey during a caucus meeting on Monday night.

Cr Pandey was elected Lord Mayor in May after Cr Davis announced she would step down following her swearing in to parliament as the Parramatta state Labor MP. She remains a councillor.

The Liberal source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Cr Esber’s elevation to become Lord Mayor for the first time since he joined the council in 1999 came down to Cr Davis’ vote in caucus.

The source claimed Cr Davis backed Cr Esber so she could secure his support in the 2027 preselection for the state poll.

Sameer Pandey was only Lord Mayor for four months. Picture: Ben Williams Photography

The source said Cr Esber had switched to the left faction 12 months ago in a bid to don the mayoral chains – a suggestion he dismissed as “laughable”.

The source said: “I also think Donna needs him and his numbers to ensure she nominates for preselection next if she’s challenged, because branches preselect candidates. If Pierre controls a branch or numbers in a branch … then she’ll support him.’’

But Cr Esber slammed the claims.

“Three and a half years – a lot of water will go under the bridge by then,’’ he said. “Ask what’s going to happen in the next 3 ½ months and no one can tell you.’’

Cr Davis said: “It’s my practice not to comment on the internal workings of our caucus or party matters.’’

After the meeting, Cr Pandey would not comment on Cr Davis’ role in the vote, but said: “A number of people are very, very disappointed, from the messages they’ve sent, from members of the community and organisations.

Cr Paul Noack expressed his “incredible disappointment” over Cr Pandey’s loss.

“It’s a big loss to the Parramatta Council and the diverse communities we represent,” he said.

Donna Davis with Premier Chris Minns and Jihad Dib. Picture: Monique Harmer

Cr Sameer made history in May when he became Australia’s first Lord Mayor to be born in India.

Cr Noack said it was “impossible to deny’’ division in the Labor Party.

Labor councillors Pandey, Davis, Noack, Ange Humphries Cameron Maclean and Patricia Prociv, and independent Kellie Darley and the Greens’ Phil Bradley, voted for Cr Esber. He defeated Our Local Community’s Michelle Garrard for the mayor.

Garrard garnered the support of her party councillors Henry Green, Dan Siviero, Donna Wang and independents Georgina Valjak and Lorraine Wearne.

Cr Prociv became the deputy mayor after she defeated Cr Valjak.

Cr Valjak said: “I nominated as Deputy Lord Mayor as an independent alternate voice to the divided Labor team who are more interested in playing politics than stability.’’