Quite rightly, Mr. Hunt is not amused

 

Letter to the Editor in The Daily Examiner 4 October 2012:

 

Due process important

I WAS not at the CVC Extraordinary Meeting September 25, but having read the business papers I wonder whether Mr Deefholts was there.
His claim that "Cr Karen Toms a caravan park operator in the Lower Clarence, opposed a council staff initiative to have Grafton declared an RV Friendly Town" (Time to be RV Friendly) appears to be incorrect.
One thing that came across loud and clear during the council elections was the failure of the past council to implement "due process", particularly the failure of public notification or community consultation.
At the very first meeting of council, "due process" (or the failure thereof) raised its ugly head.
From reading the business papers it appeared to me that it was another example of senior council staff endeavouring to dictate council policy, taking shortcuts in a laidback style of local governance, where ratepayers suddenly find their lives affected by a council decision of which they were never consulted or made aware.
It is my understanding that it is part of the role of the mayor to set council agenda.
If Mr Deefholts is concerned at the time it has taken to have Grafton declared an RV Friendly Town, he had the opportunity to search for the truth and write a very informative news article.
Instead he chose a news headline and commented without any factual foundation or legal substance.
I, like many of your readers, would like to know the whole facts of this story and it is not too late to publish it before the next "thumbs down" edition is published.

Ray Hunt

Yamba

 

Nats king maker warns off Williamson in Clarence

Nominations for National Party pre-selection in Clarence close on Monday and if the chairman of the party's Grafton branch has his way Richie Williamson won't be donning National Party colours at the by-election which is expected to be held in November.

Peter James, the branch chairman, told The Daily Examiner that despite rumours that Williamson would run as a Nationals' candidate for pre-selection he hadn't spoken to Williamson about being a potential candidate.

James believes Williamson's strong stance as an independent during this year's state election has hindered his chances for National Party pre-selection.

James said, "I'd like to think The Nationals won't give Richie pre-selection."

James has given the two known nominees, Karen Toms  and Paul O'Connor his blessings.

When asked about his business partner O'Connor's prospects, James said, "I feel he would be a very capable local member. He is a man of many skills and the appropriate level of integrity. I believe if he was elected he would do an excellent job as the local member."

Read the Examiner's report here.

The talk on the streets is that another nomination for pre-selection was lodged today.

Nationals' pool of talent for Clarence by-election

Seems the north-south battle lines in the Clarence by-election referred to previously will be preceded by a preliminary internal north-south bout in the National Party's camp.

Today's Daily Examiner reports that Karen Toms, a Clarence Valley councillor, has been encouraged by party members in the electorate's southern quarters to contest the election. Among Toms's supporters are former Grafton mayor and Nationals stalwart, Shirley Adams, and chair of the Grafton branch of The Nationals, Peter James. 

Karen Toms

James, a Grafton solicitor, features prominently in a piece in today's Sydney Morning Herald about the former, and now disgraced, member for Clarence Steve Cansdell being provided with heavily-discounted office space prior to the March election.

Results of the ReachTel polling conducting in Clarence yesterday can't come quick enough for some. However, Toms must be hoping she is more successful when she puts her own name forward than she was at the Clarence Valley Council's  mayoral elections held yesterday. Toms seconded nominations for Ian Tiley and Margaret McKenna in the ballots for mayor and deputy mayor, respectively. Both Tiley and McKenna were runners-ups in their ballots.

More details about the Clarence Valley Council's mayoral elections can be read in The Daily Examiner's report here. 

On a lighter side, according to The Examiner's report, "Tiley's bid for mayor was defeated five votes to four last night in a secret ballet [sic]." Ballet!

Photo credits: Clarence Valley Council and The Daily Examiner