Mayor and Deputy Mayor elected for new Council

Published on 27 November 2024

Councillor Steve Rabie has been re-elected as Mayor for the first twelve months of this new Council term and Councillor James Tehan will serve as Deputy Mayor.

Both positions were uncontested and all Councillors supported the motion to elect the Councillors to their roles.

Cr Rabie said he was pleased to have the confidence of fellow Councillors to continue in the Mayoral role.

“It is indeed an honour and a privilege that I take seriously and diligently.

“The previous Council achieved a lot in its four-year term, and I’m excited by the opportunities this new Council presents as we have a strong team and a great balance of experience, diversity and fresh ideas.

“I want to continue to keep serving Council on its current course, which focuses on being financially responsible with ratepayer’s money. I look forward to working with this new Council to continue to support the Historical Society as they complete the future Museum. Council will continue to lobby for the emergency services hub and to lobby for new childcare facilities to keep up with our growing population.

“I look forward to the completion of construction works on Highton Lane and Rifle Butts Road as part of the IMPACT Route. Through strong economic development and by investing through these challenging years of growth, Mansfield Shire is open for business.

“It’s critical to our community that Council continues to lobby the state government to protect and preserve our rural amenity, advocating for more autonomy in our planning scheme so Council has the power it needs to keep it country,” he said.

“I look forward to continuing to listen to the community.”

Cr James Tehan reflected on being elected as Deputy Mayor four years ago, in the previous term of Council.

“While this Council is forming and building on the strong foundations of the previous Council, I am committed to continuing to serve the community through a new Council term,” he said.

“I ran for Council again to provide stability in local government as this community works through the challenges of a period of significant growth. As a new Council, we continue to be committed to strong financial management of ratepayer funds and strategic town planning,” he said.

“I want to continue the trajectory of strong leadership we have laid as a foundation in the last term.”

Mansfield Shire Council Chief Executive Officer Kirsten Alexander congratulated the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

“The first decision a new Council makes is to elect a Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the first 12 months of a new term,” she said.

“I look forward to working with the new Council, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and congratulate them on being elected to their positions.”

ENDS