There’s something about Sharon
By Rod Bruem
As counting comes down to preferences in the Ballina Shire election, it now appears almost certain Sharon Cadwallader will be elected our next mayor.
The support for Sharon has been incredible and is testimony to her 20 years of hard work and dedication to the community.
Joining Sharon from our independent team will be Eva Ramsey in B Ward along with Nigel Buchanan in C Ward. In A Ward I am honoured to report that I’m leading the primary count, however with 10 candidates in that ward, the final preference count will prove interesting.
It was certainly a hard-fought campaign. COVID rules preventing candidates handing out voting recommendations at polling booths meant there were long and meaningful conversations about our team and what we stood for.
While it had its challenges, ultimately this process proved to be empowering and informative. We’ve heard first-hand from thousands of Ballina voters about what they expect from their new council and we are ready to deliver.
Should I be successful in that final count, I will bring to the table a (somewhat wonkish) passion for good public policy. I believe we pay our rates and taxes and elect our representatives to deliver the best possible decisions.
The community expects outcomes that work for the majority in the most caring and efficient ways possible.
Sometimes I fear we can get second-best outcomes, or issues can be put in the “too hard basket” because they are complex and involve layers of bureaucracy.
As someone who has been involved in public policy debate over five decades, in media, government and both big and small business, I worry about the decline in regional media. Our access to accurate and balanced information from professional journalists has been reduced, while the commensurate rise of social media has spread misinformation and lowered the tone of discussion.
After much consideration over the past year, I launched the Raw Prawn blog to try and bring a different perspective. My goal was to add to public policy discussion in an intelligent and civil way.
For that reason, I’m re-launching this blog, minus a couple of comment pieces I posted in the heat of the campaign. My comments drew criticism for being overly personal, critical and disrespectful, especially of the outgoing mayor David Wright.
I regret my words, particularly as they failed to duly acknowledge Cr Wright’s untiring long service to the community.
I would also like to apologise to at least one of the sitting councillors who was personally offended by my suggestion that council decision making had traditionally been dominated by grey-haired men.
It was an observation intended to be about local government historically and was not intended as criticism of any individual serving our local community.
I remain concerned at the level of representation of women on Ballina Shire Council, after having worked with Sharon to try to get more to stand and hearing about some of the perceived obstacles. I welcome and acknowledge comments from three former women councillors that their time as members was very positive.
There is however no hiding from the fact that last term there were only two women on the ten-member council. This time it looks like there’ll be three, including the first woman mayor since the 1990s.
It’s a step forward, however I feel a score of three out of 10 is not one to be proud of in 2021, especially given it’s the best Ballina Shire has ever achieved.
When I raised this point with one elderly women during the campaign she quickly put me in my place telling me in no uncertain terms “we don’t want more women on council because they’re no good at making sensible decisions!”
Proof, if you needed it that this isn’t necessarily a bloke problem. We clearly have a way to go when it comes to appreciating diversity and the value it can bring to making the best decisions for our community.
I look forward to playing my part in ensuring the council working environment is welcoming and respectful of all.
