By Allan Hogan, Moderator, Bulletin 2024/8, October
It was a challenge to moderate the debate hosted by the Glebe Society between the candidates for the Council of the City of Sydney Mayoral Election, which followed the Society’s AGM on Sunday 1 September. Nine of the ten candidates attended: the Lord Mayor Clover Moore, the Greens Candidate Councillor Sophie Ellsmore, Councillor Yvonne Weldon, Councillor Lyndon Gannon, the Liberal Candidate, Zann Maxwell for the Labor Party, Sean Masters for the Libertarian Party, Rachel Evans for Socialist Alliance and Independents Sam Danielli and Susan Ritchie.
One member emailed me describing it as ‘herding cats’. It was certainly a lively debate attended by some 200 people. The candidates’ policies ranged from ridding the city of rats to calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Dealing with the housing crisis was the major topic and each of the candidates had views about how to preserve the heritage of our suburb while making more housing available. The Council’s decision not to renew the outdoor alcohol restrictions in all of Glebe’s parks was also discussed.
Clover Moore was standing for her sixth term, and made it clear she was up for the task. The election took place on 14 September and Clover Moore was re-elected with 37 per cent of the vote, followed by Labor on 17 per cent and the Greens on 13 per cent.
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