Because of the power of political parties and the party political nature of council elections in places such as Sydney, Newcastle and Woollongong we too are saddled with an optional preferential voting system where we have a choice of voting above the line for a group of candidates. In big cities this would often be a political party. Above the line we only have to place one number for it to be a valid vote but you can number more squares if you wish.
Or we can vote below the line for each candidate. Unless you have a group (5 people needed in the case of Albury) yor name will be placed at the right hand side of the ballot paper below the line as an ungrouped candidate. Voters must now number at least 5 squares for their vote to be ballot and may number as many squares as they wish. Remember there are 9 positions to be filled.
So what does all this mean? Looking back at the last two elections only 30% of votes were cast below the line which means that it is very hard for an ungrouped candidate to be elected. In voting above the line your are really just voting for the first person in the group. The others are there in effect to make up the numbers. At the 2008 elections only one candidate who was not top of a group was elected. That was Cr Angus who got only 52 votes but was elected because he was in Cr Gould's group and she got a large number of votes. Many other candidates who got more votes than Cr Angus were not elected.
If you want to choose your candidates at this election the best way is to vote 1 - 9 below the line!
Thursday, 24 May 2012
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Blogger: Blogger Dashboard
As a result of a story in the Border, the David St works will not go ahead this weekend. Cr Van de Ven talked to the relevant Council staff and it has been agreed that there will be more consultation and then a decision will be made.
This is a sensible move but the consultation process needs to be open to all not, just the business owners in David Street. The trees and the street belong to the ratepayers of Albury.
For me it's not just about the trees or the parking. It's about how we want our city to look and feel. Are the traffic problems in David Street so bad that we should spend $60,000, remove 8 trees and remove 30 car parking places? What are the traffic problems. Where are the studies of queueing times and traffic volumes that justify the proposed works?
This is a sensible move but the consultation process needs to be open to all not, just the business owners in David Street. The trees and the street belong to the ratepayers of Albury.
For me it's not just about the trees or the parking. It's about how we want our city to look and feel. Are the traffic problems in David Street so bad that we should spend $60,000, remove 8 trees and remove 30 car parking places? What are the traffic problems. Where are the studies of queueing times and traffic volumes that justify the proposed works?
Thursday, 17 May 2012
Blogger: Blogger Dashboard
At the the candidates information session on Tuesday 14th, the representative of the Division of Local Governmentmade a presentation and one of her slides was titles "What standards of behaviour are expected?"
She listed integrity, leadership, selflessness, impartiality, openness, honesty, accountability and respect.
I would have thought it is pretty clear that it would be difficult to give the present Councillors a pass mark on many of these. I certainly don't claim to be a paragon of virtue and I acknowledge that there have been times when I have fallen short of standards I have set for myself or that people are entitled to expect from me.
Let's just talk about a couple of these for the moment. Clearly respect has been lacking - we have one Councillor who openly says she has not talked to a fellow Councillor for 4 years and numerous code of conduct complaints. We have personal attacks based on the qualities of a Councillor's father. So there are quite a few instances of lack of respect.
Let's look at two others that go together - openness and accountability. If we don't have openness how can people be held accountable? There are too many instances where "so called" commercial matters are used to make decisions in confidence. The ratepayers need to know how decisions were arrived at so they can feel confident in the processes used.
It's time for some changes and especially for Councillors to "lift their game".
She listed integrity, leadership, selflessness, impartiality, openness, honesty, accountability and respect.
I would have thought it is pretty clear that it would be difficult to give the present Councillors a pass mark on many of these. I certainly don't claim to be a paragon of virtue and I acknowledge that there have been times when I have fallen short of standards I have set for myself or that people are entitled to expect from me.
Let's just talk about a couple of these for the moment. Clearly respect has been lacking - we have one Councillor who openly says she has not talked to a fellow Councillor for 4 years and numerous code of conduct complaints. We have personal attacks based on the qualities of a Councillor's father. So there are quite a few instances of lack of respect.
Let's look at two others that go together - openness and accountability. If we don't have openness how can people be held accountable? There are too many instances where "so called" commercial matters are used to make decisions in confidence. The ratepayers need to know how decisions were arrived at so they can feel confident in the processes used.
It's time for some changes and especially for Councillors to "lift their game".
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Thurley for Council: Blogger: Blogger Dashboard
I attended an information session for candidates run by the NSW Electoral Commission, the Electoral Funding Authority and the Department of Local Government. It was interesting and informative and clearly set out the obligations if one intends to stand for election to Council.
There was one thing that worried me and it occurred after the presentations when I was talking to a person who will stand as part of a group for a sitting Councillor. The person had no understanding of what it meant to vote above or below the line. I know there are no qualifications required to be a Councillor but it is surely a concern if a potential candidate has no idea of the voting system used at the election.
There will be many more complex issues arising when and if one sits on Council and all Councillors need to be able to think and act independently and not passively accept what is told to them by the CEO or other Council staff. I am certainly not suggesting that what they tell Councillors is incorrect at all times but Councillors are not just passengers. They are there to think and question. Why have elected Councillors otherwise?
There was one thing that worried me and it occurred after the presentations when I was talking to a person who will stand as part of a group for a sitting Councillor. The person had no understanding of what it meant to vote above or below the line. I know there are no qualifications required to be a Councillor but it is surely a concern if a potential candidate has no idea of the voting system used at the election.
There will be many more complex issues arising when and if one sits on Council and all Councillors need to be able to think and act independently and not passively accept what is told to them by the CEO or other Council staff. I am certainly not suggesting that what they tell Councillors is incorrect at all times but Councillors are not just passengers. They are there to think and question. Why have elected Councillors otherwise?
Sunday, 13 May 2012
Blogger: Blogger Dashboard
Just an update as to what is happening. I am still trying to put a team together. It offends my principles but we have been saddled with this optional preference voting system that is really not well suited to Council elections, especially Councils in rural and regional areas where most candidates stand as independents not in parties. At the last two elections, almost 70% if people voted above the line; ie for a group and allowed the preferences of the group leader to have a big say in who got elected.
Without a group people must vote for at least 5 candiates below the line. I suggest that you should vote for all 9 candidates in the order you want them and send a strong message to all Councillors.
In the last election only one number two group candidate was elected and that was Cr Angus who received only 52 personal votes but who was elected by the surplus votes of Cr Gould. I have nothing against Cr Angus but shouldn't you the ratepayer choose who you want.
If you are interested in your community and think you have something to offer, call me and stand as my number two. If you feel you can't do that, then recommend me as an independent candidate with a lot of experience - see my profile details.
Without a group people must vote for at least 5 candiates below the line. I suggest that you should vote for all 9 candidates in the order you want them and send a strong message to all Councillors.
In the last election only one number two group candidate was elected and that was Cr Angus who received only 52 personal votes but who was elected by the surplus votes of Cr Gould. I have nothing against Cr Angus but shouldn't you the ratepayer choose who you want.
If you are interested in your community and think you have something to offer, call me and stand as my number two. If you feel you can't do that, then recommend me as an independent candidate with a lot of experience - see my profile details.
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Blogger: Thurley for Council - Blogger
Councillor Darryl Betteridge thinks we should all be happy with the recent rate rise because we get such good stuff from all this money. Anyone who thinks differently is just trotting out a soapbox because they want to get elected. I'm happy to trot out my soapbox and ask hard questions about how our rates are spent.
What will Councillor Betteridge say next year and the year after when we are hit with similar rises while the Council debt continues to climb? Will he ask questions of the Executive to see if there are alternatives or will he work actively for the ratepayers of Albury so that we get value for money and increased efficiency.
Perhaps Councillor Betteridge and the other Councillors should ask why, amongst 34 comparable Councils in NSW, we have the 3rd highest rates in all categories and the 4th highest number of full-time equivalent employees. Maybe there are good reasons but one should surely be asking questions like this.
If I am elected I will be asking these sorts of questions. If that's not what I'm supposed to do as a Councillor then someone needs to set me straight now.
What will Councillor Betteridge say next year and the year after when we are hit with similar rises while the Council debt continues to climb? Will he ask questions of the Executive to see if there are alternatives or will he work actively for the ratepayers of Albury so that we get value for money and increased efficiency.
Perhaps Councillor Betteridge and the other Councillors should ask why, amongst 34 comparable Councils in NSW, we have the 3rd highest rates in all categories and the 4th highest number of full-time equivalent employees. Maybe there are good reasons but one should surely be asking questions like this.
If I am elected I will be asking these sorts of questions. If that's not what I'm supposed to do as a Councillor then someone needs to set me straight now.
Is the Council wasting money
In 2010/11 the Council spent almost $1 million on environmental consultants. Almost $800k of this was spent on Sydney consultants. How much of this was taken up by travel and accommodation expenses. For $1 million you could employ a fulltime person for over 6 years and retain the expertise. These are the questions your Councillors should be asking of the Executive. But do they? It's time to make some changes and elect people who will ask the hard questions.
Friday, 4 May 2012
Thurley for Council
Thurley for Council
The Albury Council's debt will rise to $65 million by 2015 but we are supposed to be reassured that it is considered reasonable by the NSW Department of Local Government. Amongst 44 comparable councils which include Wagga, Tamworth, Dubbo, Orange and Griffith, we have the 6th worst (2009/10) figures for asset to debt ratio. By the way we have the 3rd highest rates and the 4th highest number of full-time equivalent employees. What is perhaps worst about the debt (remember that we all have to borrow money to finance big projects) is that the trend is upwards. Is there a plan to fix this?
If you listen to our Councillors it seems that it is unimportant - they want the Cumberoona fixed, the Uiver repaired and displayed and so on. When was the last time you heard them have a serious discussion about council finances? We need new blood with some new thinking on COuncil.
The Albury Council's debt will rise to $65 million by 2015 but we are supposed to be reassured that it is considered reasonable by the NSW Department of Local Government. Amongst 44 comparable councils which include Wagga, Tamworth, Dubbo, Orange and Griffith, we have the 6th worst (2009/10) figures for asset to debt ratio. By the way we have the 3rd highest rates and the 4th highest number of full-time equivalent employees. What is perhaps worst about the debt (remember that we all have to borrow money to finance big projects) is that the trend is upwards. Is there a plan to fix this?
If you listen to our Councillors it seems that it is unimportant - they want the Cumberoona fixed, the Uiver repaired and displayed and so on. When was the last time you heard them have a serious discussion about council finances? We need new blood with some new thinking on COuncil.
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Candidate for Albury Council elections
I have decided to stand for elections at the Council elections in September. I will stand as an ungrouped candidate so I will need your support. At the last elections only 30% of ratepayers voted below the line. I encourage you to choose all 9 Councillors by voting 1-9 below the line. A vote above the line means that you allow the leader of the group to choose the candidates and to give preferences to others.
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