News & Discussion: Adelaide City Council

[david]

Councillor's Notes - Issue 58

- My election pitch
- Picking the best players for the team
- Support Ralph Clarke
- DAP decisions
- APLA decisions
- Council Meeting 25 october.

David Plumridge
VOTE 1 for DAVID PLUMRIDGE for Area Councillor

Notes from Councillor Issue 58.pdf

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[Pikey]

You know what, this isn't a forum for canvasing votes in a council election.

I'm tempted to close this thread until the election is over.

[stumpjumper]

Pikey, while there have been a few comments boosting various candidates in the election, the bulk of comments have shed light on various aspects of the the election and its candidates, and have been quite worthwhile.

Sensational Adelaide benefits from topical discussion - it would be a pity to close down a thread on the election in general because of a minor amount of partisan comments.

[Pikey]

It wont be closed as yet, but when people use this as a form of self promotion, it can potentially go from an open discussion, to something close to slander.

I don't really have an opinion on the mayoral race, but some here are sharing opinions with arguments loosely disguised as containing fact. When it becomes a slinging match, this will close until the election is over.

[david]

In response to Pikey's comments I guess the reference is to my Councillor's Notes. I have been posting these Notes regularly over the past 2 years in an attemot to open a window on Adelaide City Council issues. As well as reporting the bald decisions - usually without opinion - I have tried to raise more general topics for discussion. I guess when the cycle comes around to election time it is not surprising that I am going to open up the election process and the candidates for comment.

You have to take (or reject) my Notes, "worts and all"!.

I am not a Lord Mayoral candidate but I am passionate about Local Government, the Council and its future, including who should be its leader.

And of course it would not come as a surprise that I would use my Notes to promote my own candidacy for Area Councillor!

I had no intention to offend, rather to promote some robust discussion.

David

[peas_and_corn]

"worts and all"!.

I didn't know you are a brewer!

[david]

"worts and all"!.

I didn't know you are a brewer!

Just another 'wart'!

David

[david]

Council David Plumridge's Notes - Issue 59
- Election Fever
- Conservation Volunteers
- Adelaide as a Sustainable City
- Development Assessment Panel decisions
- Council Decisions - Meeting 8 November.

Notes from Councillor Issue 59.pdf

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[skyliner]

Just read on the net that in a poll under operation now Steve Yarwood had the most votes of the 3 front runners. (Well shead of the others) . Encouraging!! Public feeling and information has leant in his direction. The site said he would be Adelaide's youngest mayor at 39yo. You have my vote Steve.

ADELAIDE - TOWARDS A GREATER CITY SKYLINE

[Professor]

You had my two Steve - one as a resident and one as an owner.

Good luck!!!

[Will]

From the City Messenger:

I hope this stimulates further local council reform.

Lord Mayoral race attracts little interest

Council11 Nov 10 @ 12:00pm by Chloe Kennedy



The decision between Adelaide Lord Mayor candidates (from left) Francis Wong, Stephen Yarwood, Arnie Rossis, Jeffrey Wheare, Crestin Magasdi and Ralph Clarke has not excited potential voters.


THE race to become Adelaide Lord Mayor could be decided by fewer than 5000 people, as city voters shun this week’s local government election.

Only 4411 of the 23,236 people eligible to vote in the City Council poll had bothered to cast their ballot papers as of Tuesday, ahead of tomorrow’s (Friday, November 12) 5pm deadline.

The tally was about five per cent down compared with the same stage of the 2007 elections.

The prize up for the grabs is the chance to shape the city’s future and oversee a annual budget of about $150 million.

The six mayoral candidates - Ralph Clarke, Francis Wong, Stephen Yarwood, Arnie Rossis, Creston Magasdi and Jeffrey Wheare - made a last ditch attempt to sway voters during a live debate earlier this week.

Following the debate, the candidates blamed the low voter turnout on apathy towards councils, a lack of marketing by the State Electoral Commission and a disconnect between councils and their communities.

Cr Clarke said: “I think the reality is people don’t want to vote unless they know the person personally or know their track record”.

Cr Yarwood expected only about 30 per cent of people would end up voting.

“People are not engaged in how local government creates communities and can improve their quality of life,” he said.

Mr Wheare said the voting numbers were “very disappointing”.

“I think it’s a marketing issue by the State Electoral Commission and also the education (of voters),” he said.

Cr Wong said he had spoken to a lot of people who had not received their ballot papers.

“This is the first time I have experienced this issue,” he said.

“I am not sure what the other part is, whether it is election fatigue or what.”

An Electoral Commission spokeswoman told the City Messenger she was not aware of anyone who was eligible to vote not receiving ballot papers in the city.

Mr Rossis and Dr Magasdi did not return calls before the City Messenger press-time.

The election count begins on Saturday (November 13) and the lord mayoral results are expected to be announced later that day.

[Prince George]

One of the reasons for that will be the change to the electoral roll policies for traders: previously once a trader was on the roll they would remain there without having to do anything, now they have to re-enroll for each election. From the point of view of keeping the roll up to date, it makes sense, but many people were taken by surprise by it.

[Wayno]

One of the reasons for that will be the change to the electoral roll policies for traders: previously once a trader was on the roll they would remain there without having to do anything, now they have to re-enroll for each election. From the point of view of keeping the roll up to date, it makes sense, but many people were taken by surprise by it.

Curious, did this apply to all urban councils, or just the ACC electorate?

[david]

Let's get it clear - the LG Elections Act was changed to make it neccessary for all body corporates and groups (which includes businesses) to re -enroll for each election in every council EXCEPT the City of Adelaide where it was considered to be unreasonable because such a large proportion of our electors would have been adversely affected.

In spite of that it would seem that a fairly small number of those business electors actually voted and when you ask people like Nathan Paine (Property Council) and Peter Vaughan (Business SA) why they don't organise opportuinities for their members to come to open meetings to meet candidates and challenge them on their policies, they will tell you that 'their members are just not interested'. In fact it would be interesting to know just how many of their members' actually have taken up the opportunity to enroll as city council electors and then having done so, actually exercised that right to vote?

The reality is, that these people represent very vocal minorities, minorities with vested interests - interests not in the long-term future of the city but in their short-term profit margins and bottom lines!

David

[Matt]

Lord Mayor election update:

Yarwood: 2319
Wong: 1857
Clarke: 1332

Now down to preferences, according to the Yarwood's Twitter.