Surf Coast Shire elects new mayor and deputy for 2022-23

Councillors Liz Pattison and Mike Bodsworth have been elected to be mayor and deputy mayor of Surf Coast Shire, respectively.

Liz Pattison has been elected to be Surf Coast Shire mayor for 2022-23. Picture: Alison Wynd

Surf Coast Shire council has elected a new mayor and deputy mayor.

At a special council meeting on Tuesday, councillor Liz Pattison was elected mayor for a 12-month term, and Mike Bodsworth was elected her deputy.

Ms Pattison, who was deputy mayor for the 2021-22 term, said she was grateful for the opportunity to represent her community as mayor.

She said she looked forward to continuing to work with the community in her new role.

“I want to empower the community to do more in the current environment, the fiscally restrained environment that we are in,” Ms Pattison said.

Surf Coast Shire’s newly elected mayor Liz Pattison. Picture: Alison Wynd

“I am committed to a healthy and connected community here on the Surf Coast.”

Ms Pattison said she was proud of what she had been able to accomplish in her term as deputy mayor.

She said this included engaging with community members at “coffee with your councillor” sessions, which she looked forward to continuing, as well as working with parents at Bellbrae Primary School to support them in getting kids active.

Ms Pattison said as a mum of four young boys, she would continue to balance family and council commitments.

Surf Coast Shire newly elected deputy mayor Mike Bodsworth canoeing on the Anglesea River. Picture: Aaron Francis/The Australian

Mr Bodsworth said he was proud to be on the council and looking forward to supporting the new mayor.

“I think we’ve got a fantastic program of projects and activities and areas of focus, and I’m super excited about helping to bring those to fruition,” he said.

Originally published as Surf Coast Shire elects new mayor and deputy for 2022-23