Zelinda Sherlock wins job as Hobart City Council’s Deputy Lord Mayor

Zelinda Sherlock is now the second most powerful person on the Hobart City Council. Her election has set a Tasmanian first.

City of Hobart councillor Dr Zelinda Sherlock has been elected Deputy Lord Mayor. Picture: Chris Kidd

Zelinda Sherlock has been elected as Hobart’s Deputy Lord Mayor.

She replaces Helen Burnet who was elected to parliament at last month’s state election.

Dr Sherlock’s election makes her the first woman of Indian heritage to be elected in a deputy mayor’s role.

“The past seven months have been a difficult time for me, but one of the things that has brought me joy is the work that I have been able to do on council,” she said in her pitch to fellow councillors before the vote on Monday.

Dr Dr Zelinda Sherlock has been elected as Deputy Mayor of Hobart City Council

“Our City sits on the precipice of major change. Even in the past six years that I have been on council, what is noticeable about the significant transitions that are at the heart of our city, is the requirement to understand the perspectives of the many hearts that beat within our city.”

DR Sherlock said she would working alongside council colleagues and staff as the council considered areas such as medium density housing, public transport, precinct plans, sustainability and climate action initiatives and appropriate developments.

“It is incredibly special that I come from humble beginnings, immigrating to Tasmania with my family from Fiji, and I received my Australian Citizenship in this very building in August 2000, at a time when ceremonies were not part of the process,” Dr Sherlock said.

“It is a beautiful feeling to feel like I belong, because belonging is such a central part of what it means to be a human being.”