Independent Dr Ross Kerridge voted in as the new Lord Mayor of the City of Newcastle
A popular local doctor wants to bring integrity back to Newcastle council and get on with the “important” things as the city’s new mayor. It comes as the incumbent Lord Mayor concedes defeat.
Newcastle
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There may have been doubters but the popularity of a local doctor that wanted to give back to the city he loved and grew up in seemed the recipe for success.
Dr Ross Kerridge was able to overcome an epic battle, edging ahead of incumbent Labor Mayor Nuatali Nelmes to become the next Newcastle Lord Mayor.
Ms Nelmes conceded late on Tuesday with a statement saying that it was “now evident” she would likely fall just a few hundred votes short of re-election, offering her best wishes to Dr Kerridge.
“Though I am naturally disappointed in the outcome, I am incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made over the time as Newcastle’s second longest serving Lord Mayor,” she said.
“Over the last decade I’ve had the honour of leading a dedicated team that has worked tirelessly to build a more sustainable, inclusive and thriving city.
“Together we have transformed Newcastle.”
Dr Kerridge, known as the ‘father of perioperative medicine’, led a big team of more than 200 volunteers to victory to put an Independent back in the top job.
With a majority of the votes counted, Dr Kerridge polled more than 35 per cent and 33,000 votes, more than 3000 ahead of popular councillor Nelmes who has been at Newcastle’s helm for almost a decade. She was the youngest Lord Mayor for the city and the second female in the role.
It was a big feat for the newcomer.
“I don’t think they understood just how big we were,” Dr Kerridge said.
“I was a bit disappointed that the other parties didn’t take our work seriously really until the last week and I think that shows their level of disconnection from the community.
“They thought I was an eccentric silly old bugger.”
And he did it amid a stronghold of Labor, with neighbouring councils in Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens both announcing new Labor Mayors with resounding wins.
As a senior staff specialist anaesthetist at John Hunter Hospital, Associate Professor at University of Newcastle and Deputy Director of the Hunter Medical Research Institute’s Surgical and Perioperative Care Research Program, Dr Kerridge is no stranger to hard work and no shrinking violet when it comes to speaking up for what he believes in.
He’s hoping to take party politics out of local government and bring back integrity and a more cohesive council to get on with the more “important” things.
“(I’ve been) concerned with some of the behaviour from the current council and the bullying,” he said.
“Careerists are wrecking political parties. Doing deals rather than focusing on what the community wants.
“The community want good basic services, basic infrastructure, footpaths, public toilets, parks that work, they want local government to support local community groups.
“Worrying about things on the ground rather than the fancy stuff.”
While Dr Kerridge is excited about the new role ahead, there’s also a few nerves creeping in, but he has done his homework to ensure he can hit the ground running.
“I have quietly been having conversations with experienced people in Newcastle council and in other councils both in senior levels, in executive and administrative positions and seeking their guidance and offers of ongoing advice and mentorship,” he added.
“I’m assured that it takes a village to grow a lord mayor and in the city of Newcastle I think hopefully plenty of people will get on board with reshaping the direction of council to be more community focused and do the unglamorous but important things on the ground level.
“It’s big challenge, a different type of challenge but ultimately it’s about wrangling people and personalities to work together and we can do it.”
The primary vote confirms that Labor councillors will form the largest group on the new Newcastle council, likely to hold five seats.
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