Lisa-Marie Burgoyne, wife of CLP Minister Josh Burgoyne, in Alice Springs mayoral run
The daughter of a former mayor, the wife of a current CLP minister and now she’s in the running for a big position in Alice Springs. Find out more.
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A big name has entered the race to become the next Mayor of Alice Springs – and downplayed her political connections, stressing she is “her own person”.
Lisa-Marie Burgoyne has formally announced she is running to become the next Mayor of the Alice Springs Town Council in the upcoming local government elections.
Ms Burgoyne, who formally made the announcement Friday, is the wife of current Lands, Planning and Environment Minister and CLP Braitling MLA Josh Burgoyne – but Ms Burgoyne said this won’t be an issue.
“I’ve had to deal with conflict of interest and confidentiality my entire working professional career,” she said.
“It’s not something that’s new to me and I’ve never had an issue with it.
“It won’t change because I value my integrity too highly to allow that to interfere with my work.
“At the end of the day, I am Josh’s wife. But I’d like it on the record that I am my own person, and yeah, we share similar values and similar opinions and morals and, that’s why we got married.
“But I am my own person and I have different life experiences to him, and that’s what I bring to the table”.
Ms Burgoyne is also the daughter of former Mayor Damien Ryan – who spent 13 years in the top job – who’s given her advice on running, she said.
Ms Burgoyne is running for the seat of mayor only, and has not nominated for a council position.
“I would really love to see the next council bring some more positivity to the town,” she said.
“I would love to see a focus on the things that make life in town really, really, really great because I think that is what is important from the next town council.”
So far, current councillor Eli Melky has previously said he is planning to run for Mayor only in the upcoming election.
Incumbent council Mayor Matt Paterson has previously said he is not recontesting his seat, as he instead wants to put his “family first”.
Nominations for council positions in the upcoming opened on July 11 and close July 31.
Local government elections will be held Territory-wide on August 23.