Darebin Council: new mayor Susan Rennie wants party politics gone

Newly-elected mayor Susan Rennie says she wants less party politics and more community decision making to underpin Darebin Council’s next 12 months.

A focus on community decision making and not party politics will feature in the next 12 months for Darebin Council, its new mayor says.

Councillors elected Rucker Ward representative Susan Rennie for a 12-month term after two-term mayor Kim Le Cerf stepped aside.

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The independent councillor has worked in the community health sector for 25 years and will be leaving her role at the Victorian Local Government Association to take on the position full-time.

Cr Rennie said her team building skills would be a huge strength and “elevate governance” to the next level.

Cr Rennie is a board member for the Alliance for Gambling Reform.

“I think we need to take the politics out of council. I don’t think our community voted for us for a display of politics they might see at the state or federal level,” she said.

Cr Rennie said the council’s four-year plan was “ambitious” and had taken some time to set up, but she expected to start to see results soon.

“While we might change some small things in delivery … we have the plan right and there’s nothing more destructive than chopping and changing the plan,” she said.

Darebin Council chief executive Sue Wilkinson congratulated Cr Rennie on the appointment and said she had full confidence in her to fill the big shoes left by Cr Le Cerf.

Darebin Ratepayers Group president Anne Laver said members were hopeful for the new mayor.

“We’re hoping that she will be representative of the whole community and not just the minorities. We are hoping for more balance in the chamber,” she said.

@richardapearce

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