Emma Pritchard

Describing himself as humbled and excited to be elected Clarence Valley Council (CVC) Mayor, Ray Smith is looking forward to harnessing the enthusiasm of the newly elected councillors alongside the skills of former councillors who have been reselected, and work together as a team for the benefit of the Clarence Valley.

While he also acknowledges there will be challenges ahead, Mayor Smith said it was his strong desire to serve his community which prompted him to nominate as a CVC candidate, adding inspiring good governance and leadership while standing by his pre-election promise of remaining readily accessible to all remain among his top priorities.

“I believe I can make a positive difference,” he said.

“Integrity and honesty have always been my philosophy, and I’ll continue to do that in my role as Mayor.”

Along with addressing the ongoing cost of living crisis within the region, the new Mayor is also eager to look at feasible options to reduce the chronic housing shortage throughout the Clarence Valley.

After being elected once again as the CVC Deputy Mayor, Cr Greg Clancy posted a statement on his Facebook page, sharing his happiness with his followers.  

Deputy Mayor Clancy said he is looking forward to working alongside Mayor Smith and his fellow councillors to better represent the Clarence Valley community.