Zucco targets role of city mayor

LONG-SERVING and outspoken alderman Marti Zucco will run for lord mayor with a “collective” to be known as YOUR Hobart.

Ald Zucco will have a third tilt at the job at council elections in October with accounting consultant Louise Bloomfield and real estate consultant Martin Waldhoff as running mates.

The 60-year-old, who has also run for deputy mayor previously, is Hobart City Council’s longest-serving alderman after first being elected in 1992.

In recent years, the North Hobart businessman has been as renowned for his clashes with former lord mayor Sue Hickey as for his pro-business stance. However, he says the YOUR Hobart team will blend his 26 years of experience with new blood on the council.

“I have the experience and knowledge of local govern- ment and a complete understanding of what is required to perform the role,” Alderman Zucco said.

“With Louise and Martin, we will bring a combination of experience and fresh ideas to the Hobart City Council.”

YOUR Hobart’s chief goals will include capping rates to the consumer price index, finding solutions to traffic problems, working with the State Government to deal with housing shortages, creating an expert body to run the Taste festival and reviewing travel by aldermen.

On the recent debate over tourism impacts on Hobart, Ald Zucco said the city needed to consider the right balance between visitor numbers and those living here.

“What we need to do is take a breath, step back, open our minds and collectively find the right balance for our city,” he said.