Nikki Williams: Early Coffs council election results indicate Coffs voters ‘want change’ in new ‘modern leader’

Coffs mayoral hopeful Nikki Williams is likely to snag the top council job as counting continues and she has taken aim at party politics in local government, despite National Party membership.

Small business owner Nikki Williams looks set be mayor of Coffs Harbour as she leads the voting tally with over 30 per cent of votes to date. Picture: Supplied

Third generation Coffs Harbour resident and business owner Nikki Williams is looking likely to be the new Coffs Harbour mayor – leading with over 30 per cent of votes on Monday.

Ms Williams said the results which put her in line to overthrow Mayor Paul Amos were

“exciting and overwhelming” and she was proud of her team and the campaign they ran.

Mr Amos is vying for a second term and has also taken on contenders Jonathan Cassell (Greens), George Cecato (independent), Tegan Swan (independent), Anthony Judge (Labor) and Rodney Fox (independent).

Current City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Paul Amos is behind in the count on Monday morning. Picture: Supplied

Ms Williams said the results in the NSW Electoral Commission count for the City of Coffs Harbour council reflected a “mood for a change” and showed voters “want change and a modern leader”.

Ms Williams had 32.51 per cent of the mayoral vote on Monday morning, with Mr Amos snaring 24.61 per cent. Tegan Swan was a distant third on 9.85 per cent.

“Coffs Harbour has felt stuck for a long time and people just want to see us progress forward,” Ms Williams said.

“We’ll be focusing on the council basics such as kerbside collection, beautification and mowing.

“Every second person I’ve talked to mentioned they want kerbside collections reinstated.

“I want to make sure we tidy up our town and take pride in it like we used to.”

Nikki Williams. Picture: Supplied

Ms Williams said she wanted to help form “a cohesive council”.

“I want the community brought back together,” she said.

If votes remain consistent, Ms Williams and her team will likely to have four seats on the council, she will become mayor and also a first-time councillor.

Ms Williams admitted she has “a lot to learn” in the new role.

“I’m going to be easing my way in, and I will be reaching out to as many people as I possibly can to learn from,” she said.

Ms Williams has been a member of the National Party for some time – but ran for the council on an independent ticket, and said she will remain impartial.

“There’s no room for political parties in local council,” she said.

Plans for the Jetty Foreshores have divided the community. Pictured is an artist impression.

A single poll question was also put to voters at the Coffs council election: The Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore will be redeveloped. Do you agree that some of the foreshore land should be used for multi-level private residential development?

However, results on the future of the precinct – long a contentious topic in the local government area – were unknown on Monday morning.

If votes remain consistent and Ms Williams is duly elected, she said her first step would be to meet with the state government about the Jetty Foreshores plans.

A foreshores master plan artist impression.

She said she campaigned on “the reality of working with upper levels of government and that the project is very likely to go ahead”.

Asked about the Jetty Foreshores while campaigning, Ms Williams said: “People want change at the Jetty Foreshores.”

“No one wants the area to remain a dust bowl for another 40 years, “ she said.

“I support working with the State Government on the refined masterplan, not saddling the rate payers with the costly burden of going it alone.”

Josie Ward and Lynette Tomlinson supporting mayoral and councillor hopeful Nikki Williams at Coffs Harbour on election day.

Lynette Tomlinson and Josie Ward supported Ms Williams and her team at the Coffs Harbour High School polling booth on Saturday.

“I like Nikki Williams’ policies. I think the town looks very run down,” Ms Tomlinson said.

“It’s time to have a bit of a change and get some fresh faces in there and make some changes.”

Ms Ward said she’d known Ms Williams a lot of years.

“I’m sure she’ll hold her word, definitely,” she said.

As of 11am on Monday, Group A (independents) led by Nikki WIlliams were at 34.71 per cent of formal votes. They were followed by Group G (independents) led by Paul Amos at 20.19 per cent, and third was Group D (Green) Jonathan Cassell on 10.09 per cent.

Originally published as Nikki Williams: Early Coffs council election results indicate Coffs voters ‘want change’ in new ‘modern leader’