Glenorchy City Council mayor candidates announced; Kelly Sims code of conduct update

The Glenorchy mayoral race is heating up, with one candidate being ordered to apologise to another alderman and the former mayor demanding contestants declare their position on pokies. LATEST >>

THE battle for the top job at Glenorchy City Council is heating up with one candidate being ordered to apologise to another Alderman and the former mayor demanding contestants declare their position on pokies.

A code of conduct complaint was made against mayoral hopeful Alderman Kelly Sims due to emails she sent in January questioning Alderman Jan Dunsby’s request to attend a council meeting via Zoom as she was recovering from illness.

The Code of Conduct panel found that Ald Sims had treated her colleague unfairly and offended her by suggesting Ald Dunsby expected preferential treatment.

Glenorchy alderman Kelly Sims. Picture: Facebook

It dismissed a claim Ald Dunsby was bullied and ordered Ald Sims to apologise, which was scheduled to happen at Monday’s council meeting.

“As a collective, Glenorchy Aldermen have been accustomed to robust communications from Alderman Sims, as is her absolute right to do so,” Ald Dunsby said.

“However to target an individual, at a time I was finding a way to continue my full engagement with council during recovery, was behaviour I felt needed to be called out.”

However Ald Sims says she will appeal the decision through the Magistrates Court though she will apologise for “any offence caused.”

“I emailed her while frustrated and do not regret my stance then, nor do I now,” Ald Sims said in an email to the Mercury.

Meanwhile, former Glenorchy mayor Kristie Johnston, who is now a Tasmanian independent state MP, has called on all three mayoral candidates in the upcoming by-election to publicly declare their positions on pokies.

Independent Kristie Johnston at Parliament House, Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

Ms Johnston said that the Glenorchy City Council had a firm position against pokies in pubs and clubs.

“I call on all mayoral candidates to unequivocally commit to this position,” she said.

Former speaker Sue Hickey, Alderman Sims and acting mayor Bec Thomas are all running for mayor in the July 20 election.

Mayoral candidates finalised in three councils

Thursday, June 17, 2021:

A bumper field of seven candidates will battle it out for the position of Kingborough mayor vacated by new state MP Dean Winter.

Dean Winter. Picture Eddie Safarik

The Tasmanian Electoral Commission has announced candidates for three council by-elections to be held over the coming month in Kingborough, Glenorchy and West Coast.

In Kingborough the candidates for mayor are Sue Bastone, Gideon Cordover, Flora Fox, Clare Glade-Wright, Mark Thorp, Steve Wass and Paula Wreidt.

In Glenorchy, Sue Hickey, Kelly Sims and Bec Thomas will contest the mayoral role left vacant by Kristie Johnston’s election ot state parliament.

And on the West Coast, a field of five will vie to become mayor after the resignation of Phil Vickers.

The candidates are Philip Evans, Liz Hamer, Shane Pitt, Helen Ryan-Skyes and Tom Schrader.

There are nine candidates for the position of councillor in Kingborough, five in Glenorchy and seven in West Coast.

Ballot material will be delivered to electors delivered by post next week and polls will close on July 20.