Parramatta councillors keen to become the city’s next mayor after Donna Davis’ exit

A councillor with almost a quarter of a century experience and his Indian-born party cohort who wants to make history are among the hopefuls in the race to become Parramatta’s next mayor.

Donna Davis has stepped down from Lord Mayor now she is Parramatta’s Labor MP. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gaye Gerard

A councillor with almost a quarter of a century experience, his Labor party cohort who wants to make history and a hopeful keen to “deliver a vision” for the city are hoping to lead Parramatta as the next Lord Mayor.

Parramatta Council on Monday night will vote for the Lord Mayor following incumbent Donna Davis’ decision to stand down now she is Parramatta’s state Labor MP.

The councillor, who represents the Epping ward, will continue to serve on the Labor-ruled chamber until the next local government elections in September 2024.

Labor is expected to have a caucus meeting on Friday or at the weekend to determine who will be nominated for the job from their party – Deputy Lord Mayor Sameer Pandey or Pierre Esber – who have expressed an interest in the job which carries a $114,770 allowance, plus a $35,520 fee paid to all councillors.

“I think they both are dead keen to be Lord Mayor and that’s a good thing,’’ long-time Independent councillor Lorraine Wearne said.

Sameer Pandey.

Pierre Esber.

“You don’t want someone half-hearted to be mayor.

“It will be interesting because we’ve got two right wingers standing against each other.’’

Cr Wearne welcomed the hopefuls’ experience.

“I wouldn’t want to put the newbies in the chair,’’ she said.

“I would like to see someone who has been there for one or two terms. It’s a mistaken belief the chair is a glamour job, which is not the case.’’

It is understood a successful bid to become mayor would mean Cr Pandey, who has served on the council since 2017, would make history as the first Lord Mayor in Australia to be born in India.

He narrowly lost the state election against Liberal incumbent Mark Taylor in Winston Hills.

“I think I have worked extremely hard in the last five years on council and I think I can make a big contribution for stakeholders and the community,’’ he said.

Veteran Labor councillor Esber, who was first elected to the council in 1999 will “see the mood of the caucus” before the Monday night meeting.

If successful, it will be a fitting farewell for his last term on the council, with the veteran confirming his retirement next year.

“It will be 25 years at the next election – that’s enough of public service,’’ he said.

It will be a nice way (to retire) but it’s not the be all end all.’’

Along with the Labor hopefuls, Our Local Community’s Michelle Garrard has confirmed she will run for the top job and “deliver my vision of what Parramatta is missing”.

“I want to represent all residents independently,’’ she said.

Michelle Garrard will go against a Labor candidate in a bid to become Lord Mayor. Picture: John Appleyard

“I’m not bound by Macquarie St, and I can speak out strongly representing the majority of residents.’’

She also expressed a desire to deliver a commercial parking strategy and bring back parking acquired by the state government, as well as work with businesses on the city’s night time economy.

Her father Paul Garrard, who is now a Cumberland councillor, was the Lord Mayor multiple terms in the 1990s and 2000s, most recently from 2015 to 2016.

Cr Davis reversed her decision to remain as the mayor a week after she stood firm and declared she would remain until new chief executive Gail Connolly had settled in her role.

Calls had been made for Cr Davis to step down after opponents slammed the double role as a conflict of interest and physically impossible to do two jobs.

In a May 8 statement, a day ahead of her being sworn into the parliament, Cr Davis said she would resign.

The Lord Mayor will be elected at a meeting on Monday at 5.30pm, before the chamber’s fortnightly meeting.

There is a renwed push for a popularly-elected Parramatta Lord Mayor. A referendum could be held among ratepayers next year to determine if the public will elect the leader and, if successful, the first vote would be in 2028.