Councillors are adults and debates can be heated, and I am not elected to Council to make friends with anyone. I am elected to represent the best interest of the community and to work with other Councillors to achieve that outcome.
At our last Council meeting I was disgusted at attempts to yet again silence Cr Stephen Lesslie because he was giving an opinion. It doesn’t matter if anyone agrees with him – as an elected representative of our community he is entitled to express that opinion.
I called a Point of Order on the Mayor and Councillor McGhie because Cr Lesslie had not breached either the Code of Conduct or Code of Meeting Practice, nor was the matter Operational. I told the Councillors to grow a pair and get over it – Councillors are entitled to an opinion and to express it and if you don’t agree with it that’s life.
However, later in the meeting I ensured that Councillor McGhie was able to amend a motion consistent with the Code of Meeting Practice and even provided him with the words for the amendment. Why? Because the outcome was the best for the community moving forward.
Councillors working together, does not preclude heated debate nor should it be based on friendship, party or team allegiance.
I believe that I have demonstrated during the past twelve months to support any issue that I believe is in the best interest of our community regardless of the author of the issue.
If I or any of my team are elected, we are committed to working with all Councillors for the benefit of our community.