Tweed Shire Council: Chris Cherry retains mayoral seat despite public support at polls for contender James Owen

Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry has retained her seat thanks to an overwhelming show of support by her fellow councillors. Here’s the details.

Tweed Mayor Chris Cherry. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry has retained her seat thanks to an overwhelming show of support by her fellow councillors.

Ms Cherry, along with current deputy mayor Meredith Dennis, secured five of seven councillor votes to remain in their positions at an extraordinary council meeting at Murwillumbah Council Chambers on Thursday afternoon.

Chris Cherry remains the mayor of Tweed Shire.

However, at the same meeting, Ms Cherry successfully passed a motion to have council’s deputy mayor fulfil the position for a one-year period.

Ms Cherry will hold her position until September 2026, halfway into a full four-year term, when another vote will be held.

Tweed Shire councillor James Owen has aired his ambition to be mayor - but it was not be on Thursday afternoon.

Liberal councillors James Owen – who is popular with voters and earned a landslide result in the September 14 Local Government Elections – and Rhiannon Brinsmeade voted against the mayoral and deputy mayoral position.

Ms Cherry has been contacted for comment.

More to come.

Originally published as Tweed Shire Council: Chris Cherry retains mayoral seat despite public support at polls for contender James Owen