When the former Mayor, Cr Kristy McBain, resigned earlier this month, the association initially assumed that her primary reason for doing so was to allow her as much time as possible to campaign as the Labor candidate for Eden-Monaro.
On the other hand, some residents have suggested that having been a popular Bega Valley Shire Councillor of long-standing & a declared “independent”, questions of a potential conflict of loyalties or interests may have unnecessarily complicated her plans.
To be clear, Cr McBain was under no legal obligation to quit as Mayor in order to pursue the federal seat of Eden-Monaro. If she was worried about a perceived “conflict of loyalties”, why did she not resign as a Councillor, as well as Mayor?
And what should residents make of her decision to resign as Mayor but not as a Councillor?
A survey conducted by the NSW Local Government Association (LGA) not so long ago suggested that the majority of Councillors believe that their roles are “full-time” so, if Cr McBain was worried about finding time to campaign for Eden-Monaro, why not resign from council altogether?
Or could it be that Cr McBain has taken an “each-way bet” by remaining on council, leaving the way open for her to pursue re-election as Mayor in September in the event that her Eden-Monaro ambitions are not realised?
Many would argue that Cr McBain has been the beneficiary of considerable good luck thus far. The totally pre-emptory decision by the NSW Minister for Local Government to cancel this year’s local government elections is certainly to her advantage should her bid for Canberra prove unsuccessful.
There are others in the community, as well as within council, who resent the fact that Cr McBain retains de-facto control of council without any of the responsibility.
Equally there are those who simply resent politicians who are ready to walk both sides of the street while all the time claiming that they are only seeking to act in the best interests of the community.
As a long-standing Councillor & as Mayor during 2018-2019, Cr McBain signed-off on council’s audited Financial Statements; statements for that year that reveal, in the words of Cr Bain, that our shire’s finances are in a “precarious position”, such that council recorded a net operating deficit of almost $10M, while chalking-up a net operating deficit in its General Fund of almost $15M.
In spite of repeated requests for a public explanation of the causes of the shire’s financial distress, no-one from council has responded. At the beginning of April, Cr McBain agreed to provide such an explanation, but she has thus far remained mute.
The association believes that while Cr McBain is seen as a popular candidate with strong leadership credentials in the Bega Valley, her refusal to publicly accept any responsibility for council’s failed financial performance must surely suggest that she is also an opportunist & cast real doubt on her capacity & suitability to represent the electorate of Eden-Monaro.
John Richardson
Secretary/Treasurer
Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association
Tel: 0264945669
Email: secretary@begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au
Website: http://www.begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au