HORSHAM Rural City Council has re-elected Pam Clarke as mayor for the 2017-18 term.
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The councillors met on Monday night for an informal vote ahead of a statutory meeting on Thursday, where Cr Clarke will be officially returned.
Candidates for mayor were Crs Clarke and David Grimble.
Cr Mark Radford declined his nomination for the top job. He previously said he would not accept the nomination if Cr Clarke decided to stand for mayor again.
The nomination came from Cr Grimble, who said Cr Radford was well-placed for consideration and removed from the “direct animosity of the past”.
Cr Clarke has served twice as mayor – in 2008-09 and 2016-17.
Cr Clarke said the council’s first priority was to install the next chief executive following Peter Brown’s resignation.
“One of the important things we need to do this year is employ our new CEO. So, it is vital that this is the first thing council will do in the new year,” she said.
Cr Clarke said maintaining Horsham’s role as a regional centre was important.
“We are a regional centre and it is important that we look to maintain that role and support all the councils around us as we move forward,” she said.
“We have huge investments coming into the community – in both Horsham and surrounding areas – and we need to be abreast of all of that and make sure it is all seamless.”
When elected as mayor for 2016-17, Cr Clarke aimed to help first-time councillors adjust and gain confidence in their new role.
Cr Clarke said the first term was a challenge with new councillors settling into their positions.
“It is always a steep learning curve [during the first term] and this year I believe we need to consolidate and have consistency,” she said.
Cr Clarke said the completion of the Kalkee Road Children and Community Hub would be a big achievement.
“I have been on the committee right from its inception and it is a wonderful achievement to see that completed early next year and open,” she said.
“We have had more enrolments than expected so it is all looking very good.”
Cr Grimble said the true reflection of the council’s work was in the vote of the community.
“I thank the community for their support and confidence in my leadership in a humbling way,” he said.
“If the community has the confidence in the council to lead, they will support us.
“We can have the hard conversations with them as we celebrate their successes and achievements.”
Cr Grimble said a fresh start was required to gain “more stability, cohesion and trust”.