Blacktown City Council has elected a long-serving councillor and staunch local advocate to the role of Deputy Mayor.
Councillor Julie Griffiths will commence her third, one-year term in the Deputy Mayor role, having first been elected as Deputy Mayor in October 2019, when then Deputy Mayor, Tony Bleasdale OAM, was elected Mayor.
Following 2021’s COVID-delayed Local Government elections, Council re-elected Mayor Bleasdale to hold office until September 2023.
Councillor Brad Bunting was also elected to hold the Deputy Mayor’s role until September 2022.
Council’s latest meeting elected Julie Griffiths to serve as Deputy Mayor for the remaining year of the current Mayoral term of Council.
Mayor Bleasdale congratulated Cr Griffiths on once again being elected to the Deputy Mayor’s position, saying, “As Mayor, it is my privilege to lead a strong passionate group of councillors and Julie has already proved that she is an extremely capable Deputy Mayor.
“Julie was first elected to Council in 2008 and has been a strong voice for our City in the Australian Local Government Women’s Association and on the Board of Local Government New South Wales.
“Julie has had a long and successful association with women’s soccer in Western Sydney, coaching and administering at the elite level, as well as coaching local clubs Quakers Hill and the Redbacks.” Mayor Bleasdale said.
Deputy Mayor Griffiths said, “It is an honour and privilege to serve the residents and businesses of Blacktown City. I look forward to continuing with Mayor Bleasdale and my fellow councillors on this wonderful journey of sustainable growth and development of our City.
“At the same time, I am committed to celebrating our diversity and multiculturalism and working hard to provide better services in aged care and for our young people.”
Featured image: Mayor Bleasdale congratulates Cr. Julie Griffiths on her election to a third term as Deputy Mayor. Image: Blacktown City Council.
