Richie Williamson, 2GF breakfast radio jock and now as yet undeclared second-term Clarence Valley shire councillor, has had a rush of blood to the head after a very solid showing in the first preference count of ballots cast at last Saturday's NSW local government elections.
He now wants to be mayor and like another high-profile conservative, pro-development councillor before him, he mistakes the ballot to elect councillors as a de facto popular election of the mayor.
The Daily Examiner reported Richie on Monday last:
Williamson said he was pleased to have been re-elected so comfortably.
"It's very humbling," he told The Daily Examiner yesterday.
Williamson, who was first elected to council in 2005, said he was keen to continue working for Clarence Valley residents.
"We got a big job to do," he said.
"Some tough decisions need to be made.
"As far as I'm concerned, it is head down, tail up, and let's get on with the job."
Yesterday the same paper has Richie upping the ante and stating:
"I made the decision to stand for mayor of Clarence Valley Council following election on Saturday," Cr Williamson said.
"The vote on Saturday has given me a clear majority and people are expecting me to stand and represent them as mayor of Clarence Valley Council."
Sorry Richie, but across the Clarence Valley electors went to the polling booths fully aware that they were not voting for a mayor - that in fact they were electing 9 councillors.
The mayor is elected by these 9 councillors from amongst their number, to ensure that councillors have confidence in the mayor and in the hope that they will all work well together.
Cr. Williamson has made no secret in the past of his support for that Nationals wannabe and development consultant, Chris Gulaptis, and his personal voting record tends to be rather erratic on social and environmental issues.
He now wants to be mayor and like another high-profile conservative, pro-development councillor before him, he mistakes the ballot to elect councillors as a de facto popular election of the mayor.
The Daily Examiner reported Richie on Monday last:
Williamson said he was pleased to have been re-elected so comfortably.
"It's very humbling," he told The Daily Examiner yesterday.
Williamson, who was first elected to council in 2005, said he was keen to continue working for Clarence Valley residents.
"We got a big job to do," he said.
"Some tough decisions need to be made.
"As far as I'm concerned, it is head down, tail up, and let's get on with the job."
Yesterday the same paper has Richie upping the ante and stating:
"I made the decision to stand for mayor of Clarence Valley Council following election on Saturday," Cr Williamson said.
"The vote on Saturday has given me a clear majority and people are expecting me to stand and represent them as mayor of Clarence Valley Council."
Sorry Richie, but across the Clarence Valley electors went to the polling booths fully aware that they were not voting for a mayor - that in fact they were electing 9 councillors.
The mayor is elected by these 9 councillors from amongst their number, to ensure that councillors have confidence in the mayor and in the hope that they will all work well together.
Cr. Williamson has made no secret in the past of his support for that Nationals wannabe and development consultant, Chris Gulaptis, and his personal voting record tends to be rather erratic on social and environmental issues.
He even made the great mistake of allowing that local political pariah to endorse him pre-election:
If anything these factors would make his installation as mayor a choice which would possibly leave the valley unable to take full advantage of federal and state government goodwill.
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