More support for new Mayor

Madam,

I was disappointed to read the negativity in the last two editions of the Riverine Grazier regarding the election of our new Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Let us be positive, let us get behind all our new councillors who have been elected because our community members believe they can do a good job of leading us. Some shire areas have chosen to follow the system where the elected councillor with the most votes automatically becomes the mayor. I am pleased that Hay has not chosen to go down this path.

We expect our councillors to elect, from among themselves, the two people most likely to be the best Mayor and Deputy Mayor. A highly popular person may not be a good leader. A popular person may not have much business acumen. A popular person may not have the range of skills needed for the position.

In our new Mayor we have someone with extensive experience in administration, in financial management, in motivating and encouraging staff and in creating and maintaining positive relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders. She is a person of integrity, is highly intelligent, very capable and willing to do the hard yards, all with an infectious sense of humour. In any election there are winners and losers.

Our town has elected a group of councillors and those elected councillors have now elected the two people they thought would do the best job for us. They all deserve our support and encouragement.

Let us move forward positively and continue to promote our great town and district.

Yours sincerely,

Beth Coffey