HODGE SURF COAST MAYOR
ROSE Hodge is the latest mayor of the Surf Coast Shire, as voted by councillors last night.
The Torquay ward councillor was nominated by former mayor David Bell, and ran unopposed at the council chambers yesterday.
It is the fourth time Cr Hodge has been elected mayor of the coastal council.
Cr Clive Goldsworthy was voted in as deputy mayor, with both to serve a term of one year.
Newly-elected Mayor Hodge said she was looking forward to the next 12 months at the shire’s helm.
“I’m absolutely humbled again,” Cr Hodge said. “I’m really looking forward to the next year.”
Cr Hodge said working through strategies such as a hinterland strategy and dealing with election promises from both a state and federal level would take much of her focus over the next 12 months.
Outgoing mayor Bell used a speech at the meeting to fire a parting shot at some members of the council.
“There has been a darker side of my term as mayor,” Cr Bell said. “The bitter fallout over the rainbow flag for the marriage equality plebiscite which left our councillor group divided and angry, but still able to carry on the business of council.
“I have seen the best of human behaviour and I have seen some of the worst. I have seen people set out to destroy others for no apparent reason, behaviour that I cannot understand that leaves a trail of dam- aged people in its wake.”
Cr Hodge takes the reins of the council after a tumultuous 18 months, during which relationships within both the community and council were harmed by repeated public spats over a decision to fly a rainbow flag at council offices in support of the LGBTIQ community.
In March, policeman and councillor Brian McKiterick claimed his superior police officers told him to back down from his opposition to flying the rainbow flag.
Then, in April, insiders revealed to the Geelong Advertiser tensions had become so toxic, councillors were told a third party had to be present if Cr Bell, then mayor, was meeting with certain councillors — with councillors told Cr Bell had a medical certificate backing the order.
An email from the then mayor to councillors and executive staff, seen by the Addy, stated: “Since we resolved to work together to address these issues, 10 Councillor Conduct com- plaints have been made against me by two councillors.
“They (the complaints) do include concerns about individual posts by others on social media, use of language and distribution of correspondence.”
The council is in the midst of a Local Government Inspectorate investigation into a complaint about conduct within council, and has recently decided to bring on a contract principal conduct officer to investigate councillor complaints.
MEANWHILE, Golden Plains councillor Owen Sharkey has been elected as mayor.
Cr Sharkey replaces Helena Kirby, who had served as the council leader for the past year.
Cr Kirby, a Rokewoodbased business owner, became mayor for the first time last November, during her third full term as councillor.
She was elected unopposed to replace experienced mayor Des Phelan, who had lead the council for five terms.
The seven-member team also elected councillor Joanne Gilbert as deputy mayor.