Northern Beaches set to get new mayor as Michael Regan concentrates on becoming NSW MP
A pledge by Northern Beaches mayor Michael Regan to step aside after winning a state seat sees at least three others vying for the top job.
Manly
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The northern beaches is set to have a new mayor within weeks.
Whomever is chosen by their fellow councillors for the top job will only be the second mayor the amalgamated council has had since it was created seven years ago.
Two women, deputy mayor Sue Heins, from Your Northern Beaches Independents, and independent Candy Bingham, confirmed on Thursday that they will nominate to wear the mayoral chains of office.
And veteran Liberal councillor Dave Walton also confirmed he will put his name forward.
Northern Beaches Council was founded in May 2016 after the amalgamation of Manly, Pittwater and Warringah councils by the NSW Government.
The inaugural, and only mayor so far, is Michael Regan who was recently voted in as the independent MP for Wakehurst at the March state election.
Cr Regan has gone on the record to say that if elected as an MP he would step down as mayor, but remain on the council, so he could devote more time to his new electorate.
He told supporters via a Facebook post on April 18, that he would be “stepping down as Mayor in the coming weeks”.
Once he vacates the mayoral position, an extraordinary council meeting must be held within two weeks to vote for his replacement.
“I can’t wait to represent you in a different capacity than your mayor,” Cr Regan wrote in his Facebook post. “It’s been a tremendous honour representing our community but as per my election commitment, I will be stepping down as Mayor in the coming weeks as I embark on this new role at a State Government level.”
To win the mayoral post, a councillor has to have at least eight votes from the 15 members of the council.
Cr Heins, who has served three terms on the council and has been deputy mayor three times, said she would nominate for the mayor’s position.
She is part of the six-strong Your Northern Beaches independent team.
The Liberals have five councillors, the Greens have two and there as two more independents — Ms Bingham and Vincent De Luca.
“I’m definitely throwing my hat into the ring,” Cr Heins said.
“I’ve had plenty of experience on council.
“I think I would have the organisation moving forward in safe hands.”
Cr Bingham, a Manly Ward councillor and a former deputy mayor, said she is a third generation northern beaches’ resident “who really has a passion for the area”.
She said she had a number of big projects she wanted to see through including lobbying for “look-a-like” electric powered Manly ferries and the refurbishment of the old Manly Town Hall as an entertainment venue.
“My focus has been mostly on Manly projects and I’d like to extend that further across the northern beaches.”
As well as the mayoral race, the council will soon have a new face with current Liberal councillor Rory Amon confirming on Thursday that he will quit the council as soon as the mayoral vote is completed.
Cr Amon is the new state MP for Pittwater and confirmed on Thursday that he will leave the council to concentrate on electorate issues.
He is set to be replaced as a Pittwater Ward representative on the council, on a local government election countback, by Liberal candidate Karina Page, who was second on Cr Amon’s ticket at the December 2021 council elections.
Ms Page, who lives at Mona Vale, served on Manly Council from 1996 to 2003.
Cr Amon said he would not resign until he votes for the new mayor.
Under the Local Government Act, Mayor Regan and Cr Amon can remain councillors for two years or until the next local government election in September 2024, whichever occurs first.
The Mayor could stay in the role for the remainder of this term.
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