Emma Pritchard
Ray Smith has been elected as the new Clarence Valley Council (CVC) Mayor during the first ordinary meeting of council following the 2024 Local Government Election at the Grafton Council Chambers on October 17.
After the nine councillors recited the Oath of Affirmation, CVC General Manager Laura Black announced there were three nominations for Mayor, including Cr Debrah Novak, incumbent former Mayor Cr Peter Johnstone, and newly elected Cr Ray Smith.
Each nominee was given five minutes to address the meeting, and to declare their intentions as the most suited to the role.
As he outlined his experience and knowledge while reflecting on his extensive career within Local Government, Cr Smith spoke of his past leadership across three “very different councils with different cultures” over a 30 year period, and said during that time he developed strong qualities and skills which revolve around being inclusive, being a good listener, showing empathy, and being a team player.
Cr Smith also touched on his experience in lobbying at State and Federal levels on behalf of the communities in which he worked in partnership with their respective mayors.
“The Clarence Valley is a community of opportunity,” he said.
“I believe the next Mayor of the Clarence Valley needs to be a person who can live and breathe that vision, and harness the enthusiasm of the new councillors and the skills of the former councillors, to work as a team to fulfil that vision.
“I believe I am that person.”
After acknowledging her fellow mayoral nominees, Cr Novak said history had been made in the Clarence Valley with five women and four men elected to the term of office in 2024.
“This is a significant milestone as our 185 years of Local Government history tells us women are rarely elected to this office,” she recalled.
“Only about 20 women have been elected, and of these only two have ever been elected Mayoress in 185 years.
“We are on a role folks, and I say let’s continue with that flow and strike while the iron is hot and make history again by electing a female mayoress to the Clarence Valley Council.”
Cr Novak also spoke of her track record for standing up for her community on “matters which are important to them”, and said she would continue to work hard for the benefit of everyone.
Describing himself as honoured to be the CVC Mayor during the last 12 months, Cr Johnstone said while he laid the foundations during that time, he revealed there is so much more to be done.
“If you elect me today, you know that I will encourage you, support you, listen to you, and care for you when times are hard,” he said.
“I do not speak of my vision for the Clarence Valley, because in truth the Mayor is just the first amongst equals.
“We need to speak of our vision, where my ideas combine with your ideas to achieve the future our people deserve.”
Cr Cristie Yager, Cr Lynne Cairns, Cr Greg Clancy, Cr Shane Causley, and Cr Smith all raised their hands in a show of support to elect Cr Smith as the Mayor.
When Ms Black asked councillors who wanted to elect Cr Novak to show their hands, only Cr Novak and Cr Whaites raised theirs.
Cr Johnstone voted for himself along with Cr Karen Toms.
As the two councillors who received the lowest number of votes, Cr Novak and Cr Johnstone had their names placed in a ballot box, with Cr Johnstone being excluded after his name was drawn.
In the final round of voting, Councillors Yager, Cairns, Clancy, Causley, and Smith, again all raised their hands in favour of electing Cr Smith as the Mayor, while Councillors Toms, Johnstone, Novak, and Whaites, all voted to elect Cr Novak.
With five votes to four, Cr Smith was officially elected as the new Mayor of CVC and will serve in the role until September 2026.
Following a brief adjournment, Ms Black announced there were three nominations for Deputy Mayor from councillors Yager, Toms, and Clancy, with each nominee allocated three minutes to address the meeting.
Cr Clancy, who served in the role from September 2022-23, said he believes he has the qualifications and experience to make a good Deputy Mayor, adding he previously enjoyed the position and representing CVC at local events, and his vision for the Clarence Valley equates closely to the vision of the community.
Newly elected Cr Yager said she felt incredibly grateful to be in the room, and spoke of the responsibility of the councillors to work together as a team to regain trust within their community.
“We have a unique opportunity to reset and rebuild,” she said.
“As Deputy Mayor I’ll bring a weird and wonderful mix of knowledge, compassion, and strength, but I’ll do that should I not be elected too.
“I know I have much to learn, but I also have so much to offer.”
Cr Toms said it is a privilege and an honour to represent her community on council.
As the most experienced councillor in the room having served four terms, she spoke of her efficiency, skills, and Local Government capabilities, and the importance of working together.
Mayor Smith, Cr Causley, Cr Cairns, and Cr Clancy voted for Cr Clancy, whilst Councillors Whaites, Novak, Johnstone, and Toms voted for Cr Toms, while Cr Yager was the only councillor who voted for herself and was subsequently excluded.
Cr Clancy was elected as the new CVC Deputy Mayor after defeating Cr Toms five votes to four.