Parramatta council vote OLC member Andrew Wilson as Lord Mayor

Backroom deals and last minute swaps: it may be the first meeting of the new Parramatta council but it has been full of drama.

New Parramatta Lord Mayor Andrew Wilson has been voted into the role by one vote at Monday’s council meeting. Picture: Joel Carrett

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The first Parramatta Council meeting has not been without a good dose of drama.

The election of the Lord Mayor and deputy mayor came down to the wire and left seven councillors shocked when Our Local Community (OLC) and Rosehill ward representative Andrew Wilson won the top spot with one vote majority.

Cr Wilson received eight votes from the councillors, with all six Liberals backing his nomination, along with independent Lorraine Wearne and Cr Wilson himself.

Cr Wilson has been on Parramatta Council from 1999 until local government boundaries were redrawn in May 2016.

Prior to joining OLC, Cr Wilson attempted on two separate occasions to become a Liberal candidate, but was unsuccessful.

“The last time I tried to join the Liberal party they wouldn’t let me join. So I can assure you out of everyone in the city I am not a Liberal,” Cr Wilson said.

Michelle Garrard, OLC member and daughter of former Parramatta mayor Paul Garrard, was elected deputy mayor.

Both Cr Garrard and Cr Wilson represent the OLC party. Picture: Joel Carrett

She said she was shocked at Cr Wilson’s win, placing her vote for Labor’s Pierre Esber.

“I can say that I was surprised that Andrew was nominated,” Cr Garrard said. “It’s a great time for our party ...(but) I was a little bit shocked.”

As part of the deal made for the mayoral role, Cr Wilson said he held out until 5 o’clock on Monday night, one hour before the election meeting, before he was certain of the vote, stating it hinged on Cr Garrard being chosen as deputy.

“The discussions have been going on for a couple of weeks, back and forth and back and forth,” he said.

“I held out for a strong deal for OLC. A condition of the deal had to always be that Michelle get the deputy mayor, which is what she wanted. She wanted to be deputy.

“In my experience with over 18 years, the lord mayoralty is always decided about an hour before the event, which was the case this time, and indeed I didn’t think I would be elected.”

Labor’s Pierre Esber all but thought the role was his, holding his mayoral speech in his top jacket pocket; surprised that he wasn’t elected after what he calls a “concrete agreement” with OLC.

Parramatta councillor Pierre Esber is questioning the mayor’s credibility after the Monday night vote.

“I was disappointed,” Cr Esber said. “I think what needs to be questioned is the Lord Mayor’s credibility.”

Cr Esber claims that an agreement was signed which stated his nomination would be supported by Cr Wilson.

“He signed an agreement in a room full of seven other councillors on Sunday night and said he would support my nomination, and 90 minutes before the council meeting it all fell apart,” he said.

“Now residents have to look at this and say whether the things he signs in the future are going to be credible ... or are they not worth the paper it’s written on.”

Cr Esber also questioned Cr Wilson’s ties to NSW Minister for Planning Anthony Roberts.

“What ties does this lord mayor have to the planning minister? We have billions of dollars in investments and developments here, what does this tie say about his impartiality and credibility?”

Cr Wilson work within the electoral office for the Minister for Planning and Housing Anthony Roberts (pictured) for four to five years. Picture: John Appleyard

Cr Wilson did not deny his role in the Lane Cove electoral office of Mr Roberts, but said the claims on impartiality were “not relevant”.

“I put in my resignation with Anthony long before I was elected mayor, and I’ve never hidden my Liberal roots and Liberal connections,” he said.

Cr Wilson will hold the office for the next two years, until the position is voted on again in September 2019.

Cr Garrard will remain deputy until elections in 12-months’ time.

Cumberland Council will elect its mayor and deputy mayor at its first meeting tonight.