Tweed Shire Council: Chris Cherry retains mayoral seat despite public support at polls for contender James Owen

Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry has retained her seat on council unopposed. Here’s the details.

Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry and Deputy Mayor Meredith Dennis OAM. Picture: Tweed Shire Council / Supplied.

Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry has retained her seat on council unopposed.

On Thursday at an extraordinary council meeting at Murwillumbah Council Chambers, it was declared that Ms Cherry, along with deputy mayor Meredith Dennis, would remain in their current positions.

Chris Cherry remains the mayor of Tweed Shire.

However, at the same meeting, Ms Cherry successfully passed a motion to have council’s deputy mayor fulfil the position for a one-year period.

Ms Cherry will hold her position until September 2026 when a mid-term mayoral election will be held.

Tweed Shire councillor James Owen has aired his ambition to be mayor - but it was not be on Thursday afternoon.

Liberal councillors James Owen – who is popular with voters and earned a landslide result in the September 14 Local Government Elections – and Rhiannon Brinsmead have been vocal about their desire to see a different mayor on council.

A deflated Mr Owen took to Facebook after the announcement: “Tweed Shire, with the support of Crs Brinsmead and Byrnes I nominated for mayor.

“I wasn’t able to get support from The Nationals Kimberly Hone, therefore I withdrew and Cr Cherry was elected as your mayor. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the change we so desperately need,” he wrote.

This marks Ms Cherry’s fourth term as mayor, after she was first elected as a councillor in 2016.

She has served as mayor of the Tweed Shire for the past four years, including through the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2022 floods.

“I really thank the community for their endorsement – the community has told me they like stability in leadership at this time and I want to provide that,” Ms Cherry said.

“My priority in the next term will be on affordable housing and managing growth in the Tweed so we can have great development while protecting the amenities of our residents and our beautiful shire.”