Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell confirms re-election bid after recent admission as legal practitioner

Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell has confirmed she will seek re-election for a third term as mayor at this year’s local government elections.

Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell has confirmed she will seek re-election for a third term. Picture: Sam Lowe

Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell has confirmed she will seek re-election for a third term as mayor at this year’s local government elections, just days after she was admitted as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.

Ms Pascoe-Bell, who has been studying towards legal admission since 2017, was officially admitted last Tuesday.

She graduated with both a Bachelor of Laws from Charles Darwin University and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the College of Law Australia in 2024.

Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell has a Bachelor of Laws. Picture: NTPA

It is understood she completed work placement with the Northern Territory Police Association earlier this year.

“We sincerely thank you for your contributions during your time with us and wish you every success in your future endeavours,” a Facebook post by the NTPA read.

Ms Pascoe-Bell also holds a Bachelor of Environmental Management from the University of Adelaide, which she completed in 1997.

In a post to social media, Ms Pascoe-Bell thanked her husband, Shane, and her two children for “supporting me through this journey”.

A spokesperson for the City of Palmerston said the council “celebrates this milestone”.

Ms Pascoe-Bell joined the council in 2015 as an alderman. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“It is a proud achievement that will add even more depth to the strong, informed leadership she brings to council and our community,” the spokesperson said.

Responding to questions from this masthead, the spokesperson said Ms Pascoe-Bell, who was first elected as mayor of the small satellite city in 2018 and re-elected in 2021, “intends on running for mayor … at the upcoming local government elections in August”.

Ms Pascoe-Bell first moved to Palmerston in 2004 and later joined the council as an alderman in the October 2015 by-election with the mantra “Keeping Council Accountable”.

According to her website, Ms Pascoe-Bell is not affiliated with any political parties.

Originally published as Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell confirms re-election bid after recent admission as legal practitioner