The Bangladeshi community packed the public gallery at Campbelltown Council last night to see one of their own, Councillor Masood Chowdhury, seek election as deputy mayor.
They had to wait for a little while to confirm Campbelltown’s worst kept secret, that Mayor Darcy Lound would be unopposed and he would be given two more years in the big chair.
Councillor Lound, who gave up his job to become a fulltime mayor for the past two years, was grateful that his re-election had been a smooth one.
“I want to thank everyone, I appreciate the support as we try to take Campbelltown forward,’’ he said.
Cr Lound also thanked his wife Rebecca, who was in the public gallery, and his family, for their support to enable him to do devote himself to the Mayoral role.
His re-election means that his second two year stint will be completed at the end of this council term and when new elections will be held for all councillors.
The new deputy mayor though, received a one year term, as is customary, although a vote was taken on whether it would be a one or two year term.
Council chief executive officer Lindy Deitz performed the duties of returning officer.
Ms Deitz informed the council that she had received two nominations for deputy mayor, Cr Chowdhury and Cr Seta Berbari, who is a member of the Community First – Totally Independent Party, the biggest block after Labor, who have six councillors.
Voting was to be by a show of hands, and Ms Deitz put Cr Chowdhury’s name for consideration first.
There were 14 councillors present, and nine hands went up in support for Cr Chowdhury: the six Labor councillors, the two Greens, Cr Jayden Rivera and Cr Teo Triebels, and Cr Masud Khalil.
Without further ado, Ms Deitz declared Cr Chowdhury elected deputy mayor of Campbelltown for the next 12 months.
The new deputy mayor thanked his supporters who had packed the public gallery, and promised that he would continue to work for the community.
“I am truly honoured to be elected deputy mayor, and I want to thank those who supported me tonight, but also my family, who have been right behind since I got involved in politics in 1989,’’ he said.
“I want to say that being deputy mayor is not about the title, but about listening to the residents, it’s about service to the community,’’ Cr Chowdhury said.
