Political expert says Anna Reynolds has clinched the role of Hobart Lord Mayor

ANNA Reynolds has been confirmed as Hobart’s new Lord Mayor after the final distribution of preferences. Find out her priorities as she takes over the city’s top civic job.

Anna Reynolds, with family Jarra, Jess and Mark Horstman, is the new Hobart Lord Mayor. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

PROTECTING kunanyi/Mt Wellington from inappropriate development and finalising the Hobart City Deal will be among Anna Reynolds’ main goals as she embarks on her new role as Hobart Lord Mayor.

Ald Reynolds has also highlighted educating the public on Hobart’s proposed building height rules, implementing the community vision report and developing a council plan with her colleagues as top items on her to-do list.

In the end, the race to wear the coveted mayoral robes wasn’t even close, with Alderman Reynolds clinching victory with 62.35 per cent of the vote after preferences with Alderman Damon Thomas way behind on 37.65 per cent.

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Anna Reynolds is the next Hobart Lord Mayor. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

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Ald Reynolds described her campaign as a “very long job interview” and felt her announcement to run early in the year allowed her to build momentum in the lead-up to October.

“But I think there is a focus on the work you do in the years leading up to the campaign too,” she said.

“I have been vocal and proactive on challenging issues facing Hobart like high-rises and protection of our mountain from inappropriate development.”

The Mt Wellington cable car project and building heights were on the mind of many Hobartians, Ald Reynolds said.

“I think I tapped into some of the concerns that Hobartians feel about those issues,” she said.

“From my perspective, there’s no doubt that the love of the mountain and concern about inappropriate development on the mountain was the reason for the record turnout in Hobart.

“It harnessed voters’ interest in the election.”

Alderman Anna Reynolds during a Council meeting discussing the Mt Wellington cable car. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Ald Reynolds said she wanted to meet with all aldermen and ensure there was a strong induction program for the new city representatives.

“In Victoria, councils are required after an election to develop a council plan and I think it is a fantastic idea,” she said.

“It forces diverse councillors to sit down to look at all the strategies and hear about each others’ passions and priorities to develop a practical to-do list.”

Ensuring the city was bushfire ready, getting a briefing on the much-maligned parking meter rollout and meeting with the Greater Hobart mayors to discuss the Hobart City Deal were all high on the agenda.

The full make-up of Hobart City Council will likely not be known until the weekend with six candidates in a close battle for four spots.

It looks likely to be third time lucky for Simon Behrakis’ political aspirations as he appears poised to pick up one of the new seats on Hobart City Council.

Mr Behrakis stood for Denison in the March state election, losing to Speaker Sue Hickey.

Then in May he went to the polls again in the Legislative Council election against Rob Valentine for the Upper House seat of Hobart and failed.

Simon Behrakis is well positioned to win a seat on the Hobart City Council. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

But Mr Behrakis, an assistant manager of Hobart grocery chain Salamanca Fresh and a staffer for Senator Eric Abetz, seems to have secured a seat on the council based on the provisional count.

“If the numbers hold out I might get in and this council is looking a lot better than the last one,” he said.

“Hopefully it’s one that can better represent the people of Hobart. I think people want to see a more proactive stance to good developments.”

Mr Behrakis said he won’t pull any punches as an aldermen but wants to work as part of a team.

“Whatever differences and ideologies we have we must work productively,” he said.

Alderman Tanya Denison looks likely to resume her seat.

“I’m still watching the count like everybody else, but it looks the people have elected a range of candidates with different point of views” she said.