Yvonne Weldon announces run for City of Sydney Lord Mayor

Yvonne Weldon has announced her run to be the next City of Sydney Lord Mayor after former MP Dr Kerryn Phelps dropped out of the race a fortnight ago.

Sydney will get the opportunity to vote for its first independent Indigenous candidate after Yvonne Weldon announced her run for City of Sydney Lord Mayor.

Ms Weldon, who was originally part of Dr Kerryn Phelps’ team of candidates to contest the September local government elections, will now step into the leadership role after the former MP dropped out of the race a fortnight ago after a family illness.

The Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council chair has spent 20 years working in major government and Indigenous organisations to the campaign.

A community advocate, Ms Weldon currently also holds positions as the deputy chair of the NSW Australia Day Council, and sits on the boards of Domestic Violence NSW and Redfern Jarjum College.

Yvonne Weldon, left has announced her run for Sydney Lord Mayor against incumbent Clover Moore.

Ahead of her launch, she alluded to running on a campaign including addressing housing supply and cost.

“Sydney is the greatest city in the world, but we’re at a crossroads,” Ms Weldon said on Friday.

“Our city gave me the opportunity to succeed, but unfortunately my children are being priced out of our city; they are missing out on the opportunities Sydney gave me when I was growing up.

“As we emerge from the pandemic, I’ll put fairness and unity at the heart of Sydney’s recovery program. I want to rebuild an even better, greener and fairer Sydney where no one is left behind.”

Ms Weldon will launch her campaign at midday on Friday in Redfern Park where Paul Keating made his historic Redfern Park Address.

She will go up against incumbent Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, and Labor Party candidate Linda Scott.

The Liberals are yet to nominate.