COUNCILLOR Nathan Hersey was elected Mayor of South Gippsland Shire following the Mayoral Election at Wednesday’s Additional Council Meeting.
Councillor Clare Williams was elected as Deputy Mayor.
The change marks a generational shift for the local council with the first mayor following the dismissal, Cr Mohya Davies, having been first elected to Council in 2008 where she served two terms including two years as Deputy Mayor.
Cr Davies was the obvious choice as mayor, after the council was returned in 2021, following the tumultuous years under the previous administration, being the only elected representative with prior experience.
Now the council has voted to go the whole way, elected one of the new class of 2021 to take the top job.
Mayor Councillor Hersey and Deputy Mayor Councillor Williams will remain in these positions for the next 12 months.
Cr Hersey was delighted to receive council’s strong vote of confidence.
“Thank you to my fellow Councillors for showing such faith in me to lead Council for the next 12 months,” he said last Wednesday, November 23.
“I am humbled and feel extremely honoured to have been elected. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Councillor Davies for her work in the Mayoral chair for the last 12 months and for getting our group off to a fantastic start.
“I look forward to more opportunities to meet with our community in my new role and can’t wait to get on with it.”
Cr Williams was equally honoured to take on the role of Deputy Mayor.
“It is an honour and a privilege to have been elected by my fellow Councillors as Deputy Mayor. This is a great opportunity for me to continue to serve the South Gippsland community,” said Cr Williams.
“I am grateful that I am part of such a strong and diverse Councillor group that supports each other and represents our community. We are all proud to be Councillors.”
Chief Executive Officer, Kerryn Ellis, stressed the importance of council’s leadership roles and that people were prepared to take on the work involved.
“It was pleasing to see Councillors put their hand up to be considered for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor positions,” Ms Ellis said.
“These positions are extremely important to the smooth operation of Council. This current group have done a fabulous job so far of supporting each other and being engaged with our community.
“I would like to thank Councillor Davies and Councillor Hersey for taking on the Mayor and Deputy Mayor roles respectively for the last 12 months and congratulate Councillor Hersey and Councillor Williams on their appointment.
“I look forward to working closely with them over the next 12 months.”
