Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith to nominate for Local Government Association president
Adelaide’s Lord Mayor could be adding a new leadership role to her agenda – this time for all 68 SA councils.
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Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith will nominate for president of the Local Government Association, following a number of approaches to represent the state’s 68 councils.
LGA SA president and Kimba mayor Dean Johnson’s two-year tenure ends in November, with nominations for his replacement only eligible by a small pool and closing on August 16.
Dr Lomax-Smith, a former Labor Cabinet minister in the Rann government, was elected as mayor in 2022 and believes her decades of experience would put her in good stead.
“I’ve had some fairly unique experiences in local and state government and one of the real advantages of someone with longevity is you understand why and how things have happened,” she said.
“You can see the LGA has great opportunity and unfulfilled potential and this is an opportunity for someone who is interested in advocacy and working with the community.”
Dr Lomax-Smith said current challenges facing local government were cost-shifting by governments and sustainability issues.
“We all want to deliver most and best services to the community and it’s increasingly challenging to do that,” she said.
“Most are having to make difficult decisions on what they’ll do and instead of complaining constantly we have to form meaningful partnerships to get the outcomes we want.”
When asked if she was successful as LGA president, if it would detract from her work leading Adelaide City Council, Dr Lomax-Smith replied: “If you want to get a job done you give it to a busy person”.
“I often reflect when I was lord mayor last time I was a pathologist, ran a business, worked full-time and had two children under 10,” she said. “Busy people often do many things and the activities of the LGA and the council are complimentary.”
The LGA president role is alternated between regional and metropolitan grouping of councils each term and nominations must be supported through a formal council resolution.
This year, the LGA president will be sought from the LGA’s Greater Adelaide Regional Organisation of Councils committee members, who have held their role for at least 12 months.
Members eligible for nomination: Mitcham mayor Heather Holmes-Ross, Unley councillor Don Palmer, Port Adelaide Enfield mayor Claire Boan, West Torrens mayor Michael Coxon, Salisbury mayor Gillian Aldridge, Tea Tree Gully councillor Lucas Jones, Marion mayor Kris Hanna and Campbelltown councillor Anna Leombruno.
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Originally published as Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith to nominate for Local Government Association president
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