Northern Beaches vote: Michael Regan wants mayoral robes again as council set to go darker green
Mayor Michael Regan wants the job again after a strong showing at Saturday’s local government election as the council is set to go a darker shade of green.
Manly
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Current Northern Beaches mayor Michael Regan has confirmed he’ll put his hand up again to take on the top job after the team of independents he fronts attracted a strong swing at Saturday’s local council election.
And it’s likely he will court what is expected to be two new Greens councillors for their mayoral votes when the new council first meets early next year.
This could see the council, as a whole, look a slightly darker shade of green for the next three years.
With about 50 per cent of the first preference votes counted, it looks clear that the Your Northern Beaches Independent Team (YNB), with Mr Regan as its figurehead, is on track to grab six seats on the 15-member council.
The Greens, who picked up a swing to them of about 6.7pc, could increase their presence on the council from one to two seats.
A swing to the Liberals of 3.6pc should see them with five seats.
Whomever stands for mayor at the first council meeting needs a minimum of eight votes from fellow councillors to be handed the mayoral chains.
It’s possible a deal may be done to have a Green as deputy mayor, if Miranda Korzy in Pittwater Ward and Kristyn Glanville in Curl Curl Ward, can hang on once all pre-postal and online votes are in and preferences are distributed.
“I’ll put my hand up for mayor to keep the momentum up and unite the council and the community,” Mr Regan said.
“We’ve had another strong vote, which I’m humbled by.
“I’m really excited to get to know new councillors. There seems to be an amazing talent pool there.”
Mr Regan said the council was already an “environmental leader that quietly gets on with the job” and the vote for YNB had endorsed that.
“The community has also potentially endorsed two new candidates form the Greens, which is a vote of confidence in the direction the council has gone in”.
A senior Liberal insider said that although the Greens had done well in Pittwater, Liberal councillor Rory Amon had “held the line”.
The Liberals are set to two newcomers Georgia Ryburn, taking over from the popular retiring veteran Pat Daley in the Manly Ward, and Bianca Crvelin in Narrabeen Ward.
“The Greens doing well in Pittwater is tied in with the push for the de-amalgamation of the council and returning Pittwater Council,” the insider side.
“The alarm bells are now ringing in the Liberal Party that you’ve got what was a Centre-Left council in alliance with The Greens.
“This has major implications for the Liberal Party.
“This council is going to be a full on green operation.”
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