Experience Loss Means New Faces

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday August 13, 2008

By DAMON CRONSHAW

LAKE Macquarie City Council will lose a wealth of experience at the council elections next month, with five of the existing 13 councillors confirming they will not seek re-election.

Labor councillors John Jenkins, Mercia Buck and Alan Hunter will not contest the election.

Cr Jenkins has been a councillor for 28 years and councillors Buck and Hunter for 17 years.

Cr Rob O'Brien (independent) said he would not stand for re-election for family reasons.

Liberal councillor Ken Paxinos placed himself in the unwinnable position of fourth on the Liberal's west-ward ticket because of work commitments.

Mayor Greg Piper said it would be a "huge change" and he did not want party politics to dominate.

Councillors O'Brien and Paxinos, who have pro-business and pro-development beliefs, held the balance of power between Cr Piper's Independent Lake Alliance and the Labor Party.

Their departure has sparked concerns that the council will become less progressive.

Labor mayoral candidate John Buckley said the ALP had a young, energetic and eager team.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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