Roy Bendall elected Mosman deputy mayor for fourth time, says he will fight to maintain suburb’s independence

MOSMAN councillors voted four to two to elect Roy Bendall to the role of deputy mayor for the next year, giving him a fourth term in the job.

Roy Bendall has been elected to a 12-month term as Mosman deputy mayor.

MOSMAN councillor Roy Bendall was elected deputy mayor at last week’s council meeting.

Cr Carolyn Corrigan’s term as deputy mayor had expired. She and Cr Tom Sherlock nominated Cr Bendall for the role.

Councillors voted four to two to elect Cr Bendall to the 12-month term. The only other nominee was Cr Libby Moline, who was absent from the meeting.

It is Cr Bendall’s fourth term as deputy mayor. He previously held the role between 2012 and 2015.

“It is an honour to be re-elected deputy mayor for my fourth term and thank my colleagues for their continued support and faith in my leadership,” he said.

Roy Bendall with former deputy mayor Carolyn Corrigan.

“I am determined to keep up the fight to maintain Mosman’s independence from an ideologically-driven state agenda, which seeks to dissolve our 123-year-old council and relegate our residents’ position in the management of our community assets and services to that of a minority stakeholder,” he said.

“I thank Carolyn for her leadership during the last term and pledge to continue her good work on behalf of our community.”

Cr Corrigan said she would continue to unequivocally support the mayor in Mosman’s fight to retain political independence.

“Our community loves an event and our Council does events exceptionally well,” she said.

“In nominating Cr Bendall for deputy mayor, I acknowledge the importance of our legal challenge which is vital to the survival of our local democracy.

Cr Corrigan will now concentrate on her fight against council amalgamation.

“I felt it was in the best interests of Mosman to pass the baton to Cr Bendall, who will most ably offer his legal expertise and support to the mayor.

“This change will allow me to direct and focus my energy and 100 per cent commitment to Mosman Against Forced Amalgamation and to my role as president of the Save Our Councils Coalition,” she said.

“The Liberal Party has their grubby hands all over local government. It is their intention to completely kill off independents running for local government.

“I view any forcibly merged council as contemptuous of local democracy and without legitimacy.”