MP Steve Kamper’s chief of staff Edward McDougall eyes Bayside Council mayoralty

A senior staffer for a state minister is vying to become the mayor of an overlapping southern Sydney council despite concerns about potential for conflicts of interest across a number of key portfolios.

Edward McDougall (left) is looking to become the mayor of Bayside Council while serving as the chief of staff for Rockdale MP Steve Kamper (right). Picture: Supplied

A senior staffer for a state minister is vying to become the mayor of an overlapping southern Sydney council despite concerns about potential for conflicts of interest across a number of key portfolios.

Returning Labor councillor Edward McDougall has put his hand up to become the next mayor of Bayside Council while serving as the chief of staff for Rockdale MP Steve Kamper, who manages the portfolios for sport, lands and property, small business, and multiculturalism.

This masthead understands the leadership tilt comes amid talks between Labor and the Liberals to form an unlikely majority on council, with a deal in the works to split the mayoralty between the two parties over the next four-year term.

Labor are reportedly bargaining to hold the positions for the first two years with Mr McDougall at the helm, as insiders claim he wants to “build his portfolio” ahead of a potential run at a higher level of government.

However, conflicts of interest concerns have been raised about the prospect of Mr McDougall holding both positions at a time when issues such as housing targets, slow development application times, and sports field allocations dominate the Bayside Council agenda.

Edward McDougall secured his re-election as the Labor candidate for Ward 5 in the Bayside Council election last month.

With the newly-elected council preparing to vote on the new mayor on October 9, former independent councillor Anne Field questioned Mr McDougall’s ability to chair a council if he would have to excuse himself from the hot-button issues which overlap with Mr Kamper’s ministries.

This would include the contentious push from the state government to build high-density, transport-orientated development (TOD) at Rockdale, Kogarah, Banksia and Turrella railway stations.

“I would raise strong concerns about McDougall working for a state member, who is a member of the cabinet,” Ms Field said.

“How are residents going to deal with lobbying council when we know the mayor works for a member of the government who is pushing for high rise?”

If Mr McDougall were to hold both roles he would not be setting a precedent. A raft of staffers have established the path between state and local politics including former Burwood councillor Ned Cutcher, who worked as a senior electorate officer for Balmain MP Kobi Shetty, and former Canada Bay deputy mayor Stephanie Di Pasqua, who was an electorate officer for Drummoyne MP John Sidoti until she was preselected for the 2023 state election.

However, Ms Field said it was time to stop “normalising” political staffers working on local councils.

“You can’t have a foot in each camp,” she said.

Former local councillor Anne Field.

The leadership tilt comes as issues such train-orientated development dominate the council agenda.

Mr McDougall was first elected to Bayside Council in 2017 and took on the role of Mr Kamper’s COS in April, 2023, effectively managing conflicts of interest during this time.

Ms Field believed Mr McDougall would make a great mayor based on these credentials, but something would have to give if he ascended the political ladder from councillor to mayor.

According to annual determinations by the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal, Mr McDougall could earn up to $132,000 on the combined mayor and councillor pay-packet if elected, which would go on top of his six-figure income as Mr Kamper’s COS.

Ms Field said the multiple six-figure incomes was “all the more reason why he should take leave and dedicate his time to council duties if elected”.

Mr McDougall took on the position of Rockdale MP Steve Kamper’s COS in April 2023. Picture: NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

“Being the mayor is a very busy position and if you’re working full time I think you would have Buckley’s chance of meeting all of the demands … otherwise you would be madly deputising all of the time.”

A source close to the council, who wished to remain anonymous, said Mr McDougall’s “hands will be tied” regarding many issues which would come across his desk.

“He will be open to conflicts of interest when it comes to grants, to planning … he might be determining where grants go and then also potentially receiving those grants … his hands would be tied,” the source said.

In response to the concerns raised, a spokesperson for Mr Kamper said “all ministerial staff are required to comply with the NSW Office Holder’s Staff Code of Conduct, including obligations to seek approval for secondary employment, and to take reasonable steps to avoid, and in all cases disclose, any actual or potential conflicts of interest”.

Mr McDougall did not hint at his plans regarding the mayoralty, but said “all councillors are required to manage conflicts of interest, and I will continue to do so following my re-election as I have for the past seven years as an elected representative”.