The Greater Geelong Council has called a special council meeting to elect a new mayor, following Mayor Stephanie Asher’s decision to step down from the position.
All councillors are eligible for nomination, with the mayor to be elected in the City Hall council chamber on July 17, 2022. The community is encouraged to attend.
The new mayor will serve through to the next required mayoral election, scheduled for November 2022.
Stephanie Asher was elected to Council in October 2017, and served as Mayor since October 2019; serving the Greater Geelong community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cr Asher, a member of the Liberal party, said the decision to step down was made for the benefit of the Council and the community.
“Our future needs to be about looking forward together, continuing to use our diversity of opinion towards better outcomes, not dividing on the basis of party politics,” Cr Asher said.
“The role of mayor is not a political role, it’s a community representative role. I have never mixed the two and party politics has never been welcome or accepted in the chamber during my time as mayor.
“It has become apparent that the best thing for achieving progress – particularly in relation to the vital working relationship between the new Federal Government and the Council – is to have a change of mayor.”
“Since returning as mayor last week, my aim has been to work closely and intently with my council colleagues to achieve the best outcomes for the City and, most importantly, choose the course that will best serve our community.”
Cr Asher thanked her council colleagues for their support and specifically acknowledged Geelong’s Deputy Mayor, Trent Sullivan, who had been Acting Mayor since January.
City of Greater Geelong, CEO Martin Cutter, thanked Cr Asher for her service.
“As mayor, Cr Asher has been a strong community advocate and led the Council through the pandemic, when it allocated more than $19 million in community and business support initiatives,” Mr Cutter said.
“Under Cr Asher’s leadership, the Council has delivered a clear plan to manage population growth and made strategic decisions aimed at setting our region up for a sustainable future.
“The Council has also invested heavily in facilities important to community health and wellbeing, which will have a long lasting impact.”
Details on the Greater Geelong Council meeting can be viewed here.
