HORSHAM Rural City Council has elected Pam Clarke as Mayor following last month’s councillor election.
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The new councillors met on Monday night to hold a secret ballot to elect a mayor ahead of Thursday’s statutory meeting.
Candidates for mayor Cr David Grimble and Cr Clarke were given the opportunity to speak in front of the councillors ahead of the ballot.
Cr Clarke and the new term of councilors will be sworn in at Thursday’s meeting, starting at 7pm.
Cr Clarke is a returning councillor, along with Crs David Grimble and Mark Radford. Cr Clarke served as Mayor in 2008/09.
Cr Clarke said her goal was to help the first-time councillors adjust and to make changes to procedures to assist councillors with full-time jobs.
“My main goal is to support the new councillors in becoming comfortable in their role and we have to really look at how we operate as a council because the four new councillors all have full-time jobs,” she said.
“We need to rearrange how we operate and it’s important that we support how the new councillors work.
“Previously it has always been people who have flexibility on council, farmers or business people, so I think this term is going to be terrific with people who are full-time workers.”
Cr Clarke said the plan was to make changes to pre-meeting briefings and all-day budget meetings rather than rescheduling council meetings.
Cr Clarke said she looked forward to the major projects that will see significant progress next year, including the Kalkee Road Children’s Hub, Anzac footbridge and Wimmera Cancer Centre.
Cr Clarke also said the council would listen to residents’ concerns about the Horsham bypass.
Cr Grimble said his decision to stand for mayor was influenced by the number of primary votes he won at last month’s election.
“I am very humbled by the support that I was shown by the community,” he said.
“However, I failed to secure the necessary support in the chamber.
“It is clear that the voters have judged my leadership and what I have done for the community, and I wish the council well over the next four years.”