THE NSW local government elections will be held on December 4, 2021.
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The Electoral Commission's current register of candidates indicates there are 27 nominees already in the running for the Port Macquarie-Hastings council elections.
The nomination period opened today, Monday, October 25 and closes strictly at 12 noon Wednesday, November 3.
The current registered candidates so far are:
- Group Ticket (Team Pinson): Peta Pinson (running for mayor), Sharon Griffiths, Danielle Maltman, Josh Slade, and Adam Roberts.
- Group Ticket (Greens): Lauren Edwards, Stuart Watson, Les Mitchell and Drusi Megget.
- Group Ticket (Fighters For Our Region): Lisa Intemann (running for mayor), Kingsley Searle, Stewart Cooper, Narelle Milligan, Paul Bradford.
- Group Ticket (Hastings First): Justin Hardie, Linda Lenord, Nik James Lipovac (running for mayor), Kerry Fox and Michael Clarke.
- Group Ticket (Team Sheppard): Rachel Sheppard (running for mayor), Greg Freeman, Linda Elbourne, Ethan Francis.
- Jon Bailey, independent for Camden Haven
- John Saunders, independent for Camden Haven
- Stephen Gates, independent (running for mayor)
- Raymond Linney, independent
NSW Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock, postponed the local government elections scheduled to take place on September 4 earlier this year. It was the second time, because of COVID, the elections were put on hold. They were originally to be held in September 2020.
Mrs Hancock said the decision had been made following extensive discussions with NSW Electoral Commission and NSW Health in relation to the current COVID pandemic situation in Greater Sydney.
NSW has just emerged from tight restrictions under a new roadmap to recovery.
Mrs Hancock said the election date had been pushed back to December 4 for all NSW councils except the Central Council which was in the hands of an administrator.
Voters will be able to participate in the December elections in person, by post or online and pre-poll voting will begin two weeks before election day.
Nominations, which were to open on July 26, were instead postponed until October 25.
The NSW government must commit to holding COVID safe NSW local government elections before year's end.
"COVID safe local government elections must be held by the end of the year, to uphold democracy and ensure renewal," Local Government NSW president Linda Scott said.
"Public health and safety must always come first, but we do not want to reach a situation in which democracy delayed is democracy denied."
Cr Scott said a significant number of existing councillors, who had already been asked to extend their term by 12 months, had already chosen not to stand for a further term.
Any nominees who want to announce their candidacy in the Port Macquarie News can send a 300 word introduction and a photo to portnews@austcommunitymedia.com.au
The Port News will focus its election coverage on the top issues facing the Port Macquarie-Hastings region as determined by our readers.
For campaign advertising, contact Sue Fitzgerald at sue.fitzgerald@austcommunitymedia.com.au