Mayor and Deputy Mayor Elected

Published on 08 November 2018

Cr Mikaela Power has been elected Mayor, and Cr Danny Goss re-elected as Deputy Mayor following a Statutory Council Meeting last night.

In accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Local Law, Councillors put forward nominations for the position of Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Cr Mikaela Power was nominated for Mayor by Cr Danny Goss with the motion seconded by Cr Joe Gauci. Cr Danny Goss was nominated for Deputy Mayor by Cr Peter Kostos with the motion seconded by Cr Darren Wallace.

Both nominations were unanimously supported by Councillors in the chamber by a show of hands.

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor will serve a full 12-month term in these roles until the next vote at a Statutory Council Meeting in November 2019.

“I am so pleased for the opportunity to lead this group of Councillors as Mayor. I thank my fellow Councillors, my family, our CEO, Executive team and staff for their continued support. Together we have achieved many things in the first two years of this Council term through team work, hard work and focus – and I look forward to working together closely in the year ahead.”

“I’d like to thank Cr Joe Gauci for your efforts over the past two years as Mayor, and also for the year prior to that in the previous Council term. I also thank Cr Danny Goss as Deputy Mayor for your work over the past 12 months, you’ve done a great job.”

“Looking forward to the year ahead, we will continue our progress as a Council in serving the needs of our growing community. As Mayor, my key areas of focus are guided by the priorities in our Council Plan including advocacy, health and wellbeing, economic development, tourism, youth services, and continued work on community hubs. We are also driven by our ongoing commitment to customer service excellence - whether it’s at the front desk, over the phone, via web chat or when we meet you on the street.”

“I am very honoured to once again have the opportunity to serve our community as Deputy Mayor. I have enjoyed this role over the last 12 months and thank my fellow Councillors for their support and encouragement. In particular, I want to acknowledge outgoing Mayor Cr Gauci for his hard work over the past three years. I congratulate new Mayor Cr Mikaela Power and I really look forward to working with her over the next 12 months. I know she will do a fantastic job.”

“It has been a privilege to work with a group of Councillors over the past my three terms as Mayor who have supported me so strongly. The respect and professional behaviour we have shown towards one another in this chamber has been great. It is equally humbling for me to have received such respect from the CEO, Executive team and the wider organisation.”

“As Mayor, you are there as a leader among equals and to be there to back your fellow Councillors. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, in particular in the role of advocating on behalf of Council to State and Federal Government officials for the needs of our growing community. It was encouraging to see that this advocacy turned into results, and at least in one instance where I was referred to as ‘Mr Kindergarten’!”

“Reflecting on my time as Mayor, a few personal highlights include the appointment of our new CEO Alison Leighton, delivery of major projects such as the Warragul Leisure Centre redevelopment, and more recently the completion of West Gippsland Arts Centre redevelopment. Additionally, the allocation of tens of millions of dollars to major infrastructure projects; sports grounds and facilities, and in particular, in more recent times for the development of women’s facilities as interest in so many sports open up to women of all ages. Each of these projects will continue to serve our growing community well into the future and I am so grateful to have been part of the journey.”

“I congratulate our new Mayor Cr Mikaela Power and Deputy Mayor Cr Danny Goss and wish them all the best for the term ahead. They both have my full support and the support of all Councillors. I know they will do a great job leading Council and our community into the future.”

Image: Deputy Mayor Cr Danny Goss, Mayor Cr Mikaela Power and CEO Alison Leighton following the Statutory Council Meeting.

Image: Outgoing Mayor Cr Joe Gauci and newly elected Mayor Cr Mikaela Power.