Long campaign begins for first Inner West Council election

Candidates begin to emerge for the first Inner West Council election with return bids by former ­mayors Darcy Byrne and Lucille McKenna.

DO INNER west residents have the stomach for a six-month local government campaign?

That’s the question as candidates begin to emerge for the first Inner West Council election, including return bids by former ­mayors Darcy Byrne and Lucille McKenna.

Up for grabs are 15 positions on the newly formed council where – for the first time – councillors will make decisions across the expanded local government area and manage annual budgets of around $250 million.

But behind the scenes, party candidates are facing intense preselection battles, with nominations already open in the Labor camp.

Leichhardt Mayor Darcy Byrne has today submitted his nomination for Labor pre-selection in the seat of Balmain.

Before last year’s merger, 36 councillors were elected to Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville councils but that number has been slashed to 15 on the Inner West Council.

It means some candidates once considered “safe bets” will either miss the cut or be forced to stand on the tickets of major party players.

Former Ashfield Labor mayor Lucille McKenna said “the reality is a lot of the sitting councillors will miss out”.

In another first, the election will have three councillors selected from five new wards across the inner west – Ashfield, Balmain, Leichhardt, Marrickville and Stanmore.

Former councillors have tipped the independents and Greens to “struggle” under the redrawn boundaries, which have merged marginal wards with major party strongholds.

Former independent John Stamolis secured a position in the former Balmain ward where 44 per cent of residents voted outside major parties. That ward has merged with Rozelle/Lilyfield where 70 per cent vote Labor or Liberals.

Lucille McKenna

John Stamolis.

The six-month campaign trail is also tipped to play out as much on social media as door-to-door knocking and candidate forums.

Former Labor Leichhardt mayor Darcy Byrne, who has more than 5000 followers on Facebook, said “there was no doubt” social media would play a role.

Mr Byrne, who officially submitted his pre-selection nomination, said he was determined “to take back democratic control of the community and give people new ways to participate”.

“We can’t go on with the current situation indefinitely where we have one unelected administrator making all the decisions,” Mr Byrne said.

“The most important thing is that we give residents new ways to participate and feel a sense of ownership of their local council”.

Originally published as Long campaign begins for first Inner West Council election