Joe Awada elected Labor mayor of Bayside, independent James Macdonald elected deputy
Labor’s Joe Awada has been elected the new mayor of Bayside Council with independent councillor James Macdonald chosen as deputy mayor.
Southern Courier
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Bayside councillors have elected a new mayor — Labor councillor Joe Awada — and a new deputy mayor, independent councillor James Macdonald
Cr Awada replaces fellow Labor councillor Bill Saravinovski, who had served as the first mayor of the merged council since 2017. Bayside Council was formed in 2016, following the amalgamation of Botany and Rockdale councils. For the first year an administrator was in charge.
Cr Awada, who was previously deputy mayor, said it was a privilege to be elected to lead the council for the next 12 months and he was looking forward to representing all of Bayside.
“I am honoured to be elected to serve as mayor of Bayside Council,” he said.
“I will give it my all. We amalgamated in 2016. I don’t think of it as an amalgamation but rather the combining of two great cities.
“We have delivered some great outcomes and we will continue to do so. There are already many significant projects underway and I am looking forward to seeing them through to completion.”
Cr Awada, who has been on Rockdale council and now Bayside Council for 12 years, represents Ward 4, which includes the suburbs of Bexley, Carlton and parts of Kogarah.
In his biography on the council website, he lists as achievements as “delivering the Rockdale Library, the Angelo Anestis Aquatic Centre, the renovation of the Rockdale Town Hall and the upgrade of many local parks”.
“He is an advocate of open space, safe roads, modern designs and local parks for families, ” the website stated.
At the extraordinary council meeting on Wednesday night to elect the mayor and deputy mayor, there were two nominations for deputy mayor, Cr James Macdonald and Cr Christina Curry.
Each councillor received seven votes so both names were placed in a hat and Cr Macdonald was elected.
Cr Macdonald is self-employed and married with three children. He has been a councillor for eight years, including his time on Rockdale council, and was chairman of the sport and recreation advisory committee.
He is a Ward 5 councillor, which covers the suburbs of Kyeemagh, Brighton Le Sands, Ramsgate and Sandringham.
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Cr Awada paid tribute to outgoing mayor Cr Saravinovski, thanking him for his strong Leadership and support over the years.
He said despite the council being made up of different parties he was proud of the fact that they all respected each other and worked together to deliver great outcomes for Bayside.
All councillors will continue in their roles until council elections in September 2020.