State Election 2023: Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis to run as state MP

Labor declared the Parramatta Lord Mayor as its candidate for the state showdown. Find out why critics claim she has an unfair advantage.

Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis won’t stand down from the top job. Picture: John Appleyard

Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis has defended her dual role as a councillor and state Labor candidate and has no plans to relinquish her position on the chamber if she is successful in the March 25 ballot.

Critics said Cr Davis was using her prolific role as the mayor unfairly and called for her to follow the path of Ryde Mayor Jordan Lane who stood down from the top job in December after confirming his state candidacy.

Cr Lane will continue to serve as a councillor if elected, which saves ratepayers an expensive by-election, while Sarkis Yedelian replaced him as mayor in December.

But remaining as mayor in the seat of Parramatta has attracted criticism from anonymous sources who said Cr Davis was “unfairly” using her position on the council by attending high-profile events “that the Liberal candidate won’t get to”.

They further claim that “effectively, the residents of Parramatta are subsidising her campaign”. Cr Davis has served the council since 2017 and as mayor for the past year.

Donna Davis (centre) with Opposition Leader Chris Minns and Auburn state Labor MP Linda Voltz, enjoys a high profile as mayor and now state Parramatta candidate. Picture: Monique Harmer

She confirmed she has no plans to stand down.

Political sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity believed the Epping ward councillor intended to continue serving on the council so she could achieve more solutions to grassroots issues.

“I think local government is closer to making a difference,’’ a political source said.

“She’s going to sit on a backbench (if elected as MP) with the inability to do anything, but on council you can make real differences — whether it be parks, rubbish, potholes — that makes a difference to people’s lives. She is good at that.’’

Labor’s captain’s pick saw NSW Opposition leader Chris Minns select Cr Davis and overlook the rank and file pre-selection step in which members choose their candidate.

The party also adopted that in the federal poll when eastern suburbs millionaire Andrew Charlton was parachuted into the candidacy, which he won.

“I think people are just p****d off,’’ a source said.

Despite the preference for a more “democratic” rank and file method being dumped, party members are throwing their support behind her in the hope she turns the seat red following the retirement of Liberal MP Geoff Lee, who has held the seat since 2011.

“I will continue to fulfil my duties as a councillor and Lord Mayor in the lead up to the election, in the same way that councillors and mayors across NSW from all political stripes are running for a state seat at the March election,’’ Cr Davis responded.

“I will not be taking the additional pay, car or associated entitlements with being the Lord Mayor. As such, I have taken steps to action this.’’

She said she had been humbled by the support received from branch members and the community and had immersed herself in the community for the past 25 years.

“My focus is on the people of Parramatta for the coming months, as it has been since I was privileged enough to be first elected to the City of Parramatta Council,” she said.

Donna Davis with Parramatta Eels legends Steve Ella, John Muggleton and Peter Wynn during Grand Final week.

Cr Davis is permitted to continue in the role until September 2024 when the next local government elections will be held.

If she continues as a councillor but steps down as Lord Mayor, Labor’s Pierre Esber is favoured to replace her, but when contacted said he had “given it no thought”.

The chamber would alter more if Deputy Lord Mayor Sameer Pandey wins the newly-formed seat of Winston Hills against Seven Hills incumbent Mark Taylor.

Meanwhile, the Liberals will take longer to select their candidate after members will go through a pre-selection process that will see a Parramatta candidate declared on January 23.

Parramatta hopeful Tanya Raffoul hopes to win the Parramatta preselection.

The battle to retain Parramatta comes amid party woes after multiple members were expelled in December following allegations they set up false emails to sign up about 50 members.

Party members are furious and claim those members will be allowed to vote for the candidate.

The two lead contenders are David Elliott’s chief of staff Tanya Raffoul and Katie Mullens, who is a lawyer at Barrak Lawyers at North Parramatta.

She was contacted for comment.

In November, Miss Raffoul, who has spoken out against sexism within her party, revealed her plans to run in March with plans to build a Hindu school and upgrade hospitals.

The Liberal Party would not comment on the allegations of false emails, which the NSW Electoral Commission is investigating.