Some dismiss council elections as not worth the trouble, but one person who will be keeping a close eye on the entire process is Ben Raue.
A former Greens candidate for Campbelltown Council and state and federal elections, Mr Raue runs a website and podcast, both called The Tally Room, where he writes about elections around Australia.
“At the moment I am focusing on the upcoming council elections in NSW, which often don’t get as much attention as they deserve,’’ he tells the South West Voice in Macarthur.
Raue grew up in Campbelltown but moved to another part of Sydney when he was in his 20s.
But he still has a special interest in his old stomping ground and this week recorded a podcast with the editor of this online publication about the elections for three of the more populous councils in South Western Sydney.
“All of the local councils in this area have interesting stories worth telling, and along with local media I am trying to include some analysis of the election trends, across the 24 most populous councils up for election in 2021,’’ he says.
“I have also published profiles of each of the 24 most populous councils and I am regularly blogging about various elements of how council elections work in NSW in the lead-up to December 4.’’
Mr Raue says Labor will be hoping to retain the mayoralty of Liverpool with incumbent Wendy Waller retiring and fellow councillor Nathan Hagerty stepping up.
The ALP currently holds five out of 11 seats on the council (including the mayor), so picking up an extra seat would give Labor a majority on the council.
He says Labor, which in 2017 gained their first majority on Campbelltown in decades, will find it very hard to retain that majority, so the council’s balance of power could return to a collection of independents.
“The population of Camden council has been booming, particularly in the new suburbs at the northern end of the council, forcing a redrawing of the ward boundaries,’’ Mr Raue said.
“The Liberal Party has led the council for the last nine years, although they have needed the vote of an independent since the 2016 election.
“It’s a tough ask, but if the Liberal Party lose their second seat in the north ward that would likely change the political make-up of the council.’’
Mr Raue says he hasn’t written a profile of Wollondilly Council, but is interested to see what the Shire’s first direct election of mayor produces.
Visit www.tallyroom.com.au to find out more. Listen to the podcast here.
