Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie says his deputy Peter Sexton has done very little to help run the city

A WAR of words has erupted between Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie and his deputy ahead of what is likely to be “one of the dirtiest local government elections Hobart has seen”.

Lord Mayor Ron Christie says Deputy Lord Mayor Peter Sexton, pictured, has done little to help run the city — a claim Ald Sexton rejects. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

A WAR of words has erupted between Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie and Deputy Lord Mayor Peter Sexton ahead of what is likely to be “one of the dirtiest local government elections Hobart has seen”.

Yesterday, Ald Sexton attacked Ald Christie’s recent comments about tourism and said they were at odds with a trip to China the Lord Mayor took in January last year where atttracting increased tourism from China was one of the goals.

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Ald Christie has hit back, saying he regrets voting for Ald Sexton to fill the deputy role.

“In six months, this deputy has done very little to assist me in the role, but did find time in June to take a three-day $7,853.14 professional development trip to London to study ‘Tangible-Intangible Heritage Design, Social and Cultural Critiques on the Past Present and Future of London’ at ratepayers expense.

Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

“I expect from my comments on tourism, Dark Mofo and aldermen trying to gag me that this will be one of the dirtiest local government elections Hobart has seen.

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“The mudslinging has started and if my ‘loyal’ deputy or any alderman is going to throw it at me, I say make sure it sticks.”

Ald Sexton defended his three-day trip to a London conference, which explored how heritage cities could maintain their character yet still meet demands of growth and development.

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“The Mercury has covered my trip to London this year on several occasions but, to reiterate, the trip was a professional development activity approved by all aldermen including Ald Christie,” he said.

“After the London conference, I took a personally funded holiday with my wife.”

Ald Sexton also rejected claims that he had not tried to help the Lord Mayor run the city.

“When I first was elected Deputy Lord Mayor I met with Ald Christie in the presence of senior staff and offered to meet with him every Friday or every second Friday to discuss any issues of concern — he declined.

“When I have been asked to represent the Lord Mayor I have done so except when there were clashes.”

Ald Christie took to Facebook yesterday to defend his trip to Fuzhou, China, last year for a Friendship Agreement signing saying he did not stand in front of 7 million people inviting them all to visit Hobart, saying the invitation was directed to three or four small groups.