Cr Brett Tessari, right, returns for a fourth term as mayor, with Cr Ron Bauer as his deputy. By Catherine Watson
BRETT Tessari returns to the mayoral chair for his fourth term after he was the sole nomination at today’s special council meeting.
“I’m back,” he said, as he took the mayoral chair. “I haven’t sat in this chair for five years.”
He takes over from Cr Rochelle Halstead, who resigned from the mayoralty after she was endorsed as the Liberal candidate for Bass at the November state election.
Cr Halstead said it would be inappropriate for her to continue as mayor while campaigning against the current Labor Government. She will remain as a councillor until election writs are issued in early November.
BRETT Tessari returns to the mayoral chair for his fourth term after he was the sole nomination at today’s special council meeting.
“I’m back,” he said, as he took the mayoral chair. “I haven’t sat in this chair for five years.”
He takes over from Cr Rochelle Halstead, who resigned from the mayoralty after she was endorsed as the Liberal candidate for Bass at the November state election.
Cr Halstead said it would be inappropriate for her to continue as mayor while campaigning against the current Labor Government. She will remain as a councillor until election writs are issued in early November.
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With Cr Tessari moving into the top job, Cr Ron Bauer takes over as deputy mayor.
Bass Coast’s mayor and deputy mayor positions are usually decided behind the scenes before the public meeting but unusually there was a public vote this time. Cr Bauer, a second-term councillor, secured the position six votes to three over Cr Jon Temby. |
The numbers Mayoral vote Cr Brett Tessari – sole nomination Deputy Mayoral vote Cr Ron Bauer: Crs Halstead, Tessari, Thompson, O’Brien, Edwards and Bauer Cr Jon Temby: Crs Morgan, Bell and Temby |
While the deputy’s position is usually a doddle – the deputy just fills in at the events the mayor doesn’t want to attend – Cr Bauer will have to earn his modest pay increase.
Cr Tessari is combining the mayoral role with a full-time and demanding job as operations manager for the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition. He also sits on a couple of boards.
Acknowledging the workload, he said he would be relying on his deputy and other councillors to take on some of the committee roles that come with the position.
“The new deputy mayor will get a quick intro to the job.”
Cr Tessari is a three-term councillor and was Bass Coast mayor from 2018 to 2021.
When he stepped down at the end of 2021, he acknowledged that he was worn out by the constant criticism of all things council by a few community members.
He said he’ll bring a different attitude to the post this time.
“This time I won’t be trying to do the whole thing myself.
“At this stage it’s short term. I’m not sure that I will put my hand up at the next mayoral election in November.”
He takes over at a pivotal time leading up to the state election.
“Advocacy is a massive part of the mayor’s role so there are going to be a lot of trips to Spring Street, and to Canberra.”
Cr Tessari is combining the mayoral role with a full-time and demanding job as operations manager for the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition. He also sits on a couple of boards.
Acknowledging the workload, he said he would be relying on his deputy and other councillors to take on some of the committee roles that come with the position.
“The new deputy mayor will get a quick intro to the job.”
Cr Tessari is a three-term councillor and was Bass Coast mayor from 2018 to 2021.
When he stepped down at the end of 2021, he acknowledged that he was worn out by the constant criticism of all things council by a few community members.
He said he’ll bring a different attitude to the post this time.
“This time I won’t be trying to do the whole thing myself.
“At this stage it’s short term. I’m not sure that I will put my hand up at the next mayoral election in November.”
He takes over at a pivotal time leading up to the state election.
“Advocacy is a massive part of the mayor’s role so there are going to be a lot of trips to Spring Street, and to Canberra.”
State elections
Two Bass Coast councillors have so far declared they will seek election to the Victorian Parliament.
Cr Halstead was selected from two candidates who nominated for the Liberal Party. She previously ran for the Liberal Party in the Frankston electorate in 2006 but was unsuccessful.
Cr Mat Morgan is the endorsed Greens candidate for the Upper House seat of Eastern Victoria. He has previously stood for the Greens at state and federal elections.
Both candidates stand a realistic chance of being elected.
If Cr Halstead wins the seat of Bass, her council position in the Western Port Ward will be offered to Nikole Shellekens, the highest-ranking unsuccessful candidate at the 2024 council election.
If Cr Morgan is elected, his council position in the Bunurong Ward will be offered to former councillor Leticia Laing.
Cr Tessari and Cr Meg Edwards both stood at the 2022 state election, Cr Tessari as a National Party candidate and Cr Edwards as a “conservative independent”.
Both have declared they are non starters in this election.
Two Bass Coast councillors have so far declared they will seek election to the Victorian Parliament.
Cr Halstead was selected from two candidates who nominated for the Liberal Party. She previously ran for the Liberal Party in the Frankston electorate in 2006 but was unsuccessful.
Cr Mat Morgan is the endorsed Greens candidate for the Upper House seat of Eastern Victoria. He has previously stood for the Greens at state and federal elections.
Both candidates stand a realistic chance of being elected.
If Cr Halstead wins the seat of Bass, her council position in the Western Port Ward will be offered to Nikole Shellekens, the highest-ranking unsuccessful candidate at the 2024 council election.
If Cr Morgan is elected, his council position in the Bunurong Ward will be offered to former councillor Leticia Laing.
Cr Tessari and Cr Meg Edwards both stood at the 2022 state election, Cr Tessari as a National Party candidate and Cr Edwards as a “conservative independent”.
Both have declared they are non starters in this election.