Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM, and Deputy Mayor Julie Griffiths have been re-elected unopposed to lead Blacktown City Council for the next 12 months leading up to the 2021 Local Government Elections.
Local Government elections were due to be held this month, however the Minister for Local Government announced in March that the elections would be postponed for 12 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the Local Government Act, elections needed to be held for the office of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the remaining 1-year term of Council.
Councillor Bleasdale and Councillor Griffiths were elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor at an Extraordinary Council meeting last night (Wednesday).
They will hold the positions until the September '21 Local Government elections.
"It is a great honour and privilege to have been elected by my fellow Councillors to continue in the office of Mayor of the City of Blacktown for the remaining 1-year term of Council." Mayor Bleasdale said.
"Deputy Mayor Griffiths and I see our election as an endorsement of Council's unified and responsible plans, policies and actions.
"While COVID-19 has resulted in considerable revenue loss for Council, we have the right policies and plans in place to ensure the health and financial wellbeing of our community.
"We are a team committed to the transformative program that is establishing Blacktown as a city of talent, diversity and sustainable growth and development," Mayor Bleasdale said.
Deputy Mayor Griffiths said; "It is an honour and privilege to serve the Blacktown City Community and I look forward to joining with Tony and my fellow Councillors in ensuring Blacktown City continues its journey of sustainable development while celebrating our diversity and multiculturalism."
Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM was first elected to Council in November 1996. He held the position of Deputy Mayor for 3 years and became Mayor of Blacktown City in October 2019 when then Mayor Stephen Bali MP stepped down from the position.
Mayor Bleasdale was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2010 for his service to the community as a supporter of charitable organisations and for his contribution to local government in the Blacktown City area.
Deputy Mayor Griffiths was first elected to Council in 2008 and became Deputy Mayor in September 2019. She is a past President of the Australian Local Government Women's Association (NSW) and a current member of the NSW Joint Ministerial Advisory Council.
Picture shows: Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM and Deputy Mayor Julie Griffiths.
