Sujan Selventhiran becomes first Greens councillor elected to Cumberland Council

A Tamil refugee has made history as the first Green to be elected to a western Sydney council, signalling the exit of a long-serving Labor mayor in the diverse electorate.

Sujan Selventhiran will fill the first ever Greens seat on Cumberland Council.

After a tight race that appeared the Greens’ votes would preference Labor, a Tamil refugee has made history to become the first person from his party to win a spot on Cumberland Council.

Sujan Selventhiran’s triumph has signalled the departure of mayor and 12-year councillor Lisa Lake, who ran as No. 2 on the Labor ticket,

She was behind Suman Saha, who will be the only Labor councillor in the Wentworthville ward.

After “extremely good results” in 2017 and 2021 that saw Labor win two seats in Wentworthville, Mr Saha was initially confident Labor could repeat the feat this year with Ms Lake as No. 2 on the ticket but Mr Selventhiran garnered 17.32 per cent of the first-party preference vote.

Liberal Michael Zaiter was re-elected as the third councillor in the ward with 32.86 per cent, behind Labor on 36.11 per cent.

Sujan Selventhiran.

Mayor Lisa Lake with lions.

Mr Saha said voter feedback expressed a lack of confidence in federal Labor’s ability to tackle cost-of-living pressures and soaring rent prices hitting younger residents in the hip pocket.

Mr Selventhiran, whose family fled war-torn Sri Lanka for Australia when he was a child, has lived in the Cumberland area for almost 20 years.

The 39-year-old telecommunications operations manager’s new patch of Wentworthville is, he notes, home to the largest Tamil community in NSW. More than 7700 residents speak Tamil at home.

Mr Selventhiran, also known as Mr Selven, has been actively involved in community work and human rights advocacy, particularly with the Sydney Tamil community.

“I was obviously very excited about what we can do in the Cumberland Council, and, also, we worked really hard in terms of door knocking and engaging with the community and our work’s paid off,’’ the Toongabbie resident said.

Ms Lake said running in second spot was risky but for “succession reasons I’m not disappointed’’ Mr Saha was elected.

“I accept we can’t take these things for granted,” she said.

“It was my decision, just as a matter of succession, to be put down in the second spot.’’

She added how Mr Zaiter and Mr Selventhiran had shown service and integrity.

“Sujan’s someone I consider well-regarded in our area. He’s shown a commitment to community service and I wish him well,’’ she said.

“I see him as a relatable candidate.’’

Ms Lake, 61, said it was “unlikely’’ she would run for the council again, but she was not ready to retire.

“I can say I’m proud of what I’ve contributed and what’s been achieved and I wish the council the very best,’’ she said.

“It’s been incredibly interesting, and complex and challenging.’’

Greg Cummings has failed to retain his spot on the council. Picture: Tim Pascoe

Nadima Kafrouni-Saba, who served on the council when it was Holroyd, returned as a Liberal councillor in the Greystanes ward.

It is understood the birth of her third child is imminent.

Ms Kafrouni-Saba’s win has meant another long-serving councillor, Greg Cummings, won’t return to the chamber. Labor’s Diane Colman and independent Eddy Sarkis were also re-elected to Greystanes.

Granville ward councillors are Ola Hamed (Labor), Joseph Rahme (Liberals) and Steve Christou (Our Local Community).

Those representing the Regents Park ward are newcomers Enver Yasar (Labor) and Steve Yang (Liberals), along with returning councillor Helen Hughes (Our Local Community).

Popular pharmacist Ahmed Ouf will join the council in the South Granville ward, alongside Glenn Elmore (Labor) and Paul Garrard (Our Local Community).