Former Warringah mayor Michael Regan starts Your Northern Beaches party ahead of council elections

FORMER Warringah mayor Michael Regan has launched his own political party in a bid to rule the new Northern Beaches Council.

Independent Michael Regan at Manly. Picture: Adam Ward

• Former mayors push for popularly elected mayor on beaches
• Sydney cops forced to couch surf
• Baird: ‘The conversation that ended my career’

MICHAEL Regan has launched his own political party in a bid to rule the new Northern Beaches Council.

The former Warringah mayor announced the Your Northern Beaches Party had been registered with the electoral commission and said he would field 15 candidates under the banner at the September 9 council elections.

But some have criticised the move as a “smokescreen” version of a major party.

Former Warringah and Manly councillor Pat Daley said a party of that magnitude was a major force, akin to the mainstream political parties.

“People need to understand that this a major political party and fully registered,” Mr Daley, a Liberal Party member, said.

Independent Michael Regan at Manly. Picture: Adam Ward.

“The word ‘independent’ is a bit of a smokescreen, they are not independent.

“They are tied in; they caucus (and) go along party lines; they are a very active, structured and disciplined political party.”

Mr Regan argued his team would be solely interested in “representing the community and not their major party or their personal egos”.

He pointed to his record over the past eight years at the helm of Warringah, where, he said, despite political differences, the councillors agreed on 95 per cent of business.

He denied that his party would become a political machine like major parties.

“It will be just local residents who want the best for our community, not ourselves or the party — that is the difference,” he said.

Former Warringah and Manly councillor Pat Daley said the new party was a major force.

Mr Regan confirmed he wanted the mayoral role.

Under the amalgamation proclamation, Northern Beaches Council’s first mayor will be elected by the councillors, meaning Mr Regan would need eight of 15 possible votes.

“A directly elected mayor provides stability and transparency — four years of stability for the council, but more importantly, stability for the community they represent,” Mr Regan said.

“A direct mayoral election by the people provides a mandate for leadership — a mandate for that individual to implement their vision that the people elected them on.”

He went on: “For me, that’s the most important thing ... (The mayor) is accountable solely to the community they represent, not to the fellow councillors that handed them power and not to some party war lord telling everyone who to vote for.

“Unfortunately, in the past, when you look across local government in general, it was the peer-elected model that meant people became susceptible to corruption and misconduct as they were driven to fulfil promises made to individual councillors. In less extreme examples, it holds councils back from reaching their full potential and instead they tread water.”

Dick Persson council administrator. Picture: Braden Fastier.

Northern Beaches Council administrator Dick Persson can hold a plebiscite before the election to allow residents to decide how they want their mayor elected.

“I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to make that decision to hold a plebiscite, costing a considerable amount of money, prior to the next election,” Mr Persson said.

MELBOURNE CBD EYEWITNESS VIDEO

“The State Government seems to not favour having such plebiscites at the next election. Rather, it wants to wait for the elected council to make the decision themselves.”

While Mr Persson said he supported a popularly elected mayor, he said it was a matter for Mr Regan to take up with the new premier and local government minister.