AUGUST 2018 | Craig Perkins

IN OCTOBER this year, local government in Tasmania will go to the polls. I recently announced that I have decided not to re-contest.

When I was first elected to the Council nearly nine years ago, I made a commitment to myself that two terms on Council would seem to be a fair contribution, assuming I was re-elected a second time. So some months back, I started to reflect on that commitment, resulting in my decision to not continue.

It has been a huge privilege to have been an elected representative of our community for those nine years. I am even more humbled to have been your mayor for seven of those years.

I don’t feel that I have been anything other than a servant of our community, clearly never an expert, but most importantly never anything more than a community member. I would certainly encourage any member of our community to put your hand up. I would also encourage more women and younger people in our community to nominate for a role.

What have I learnt during my time on Council? The first thing is that there are so many people in our community who participate and engage in so many community activities. As an elected member, whilst we have our own personal view on matters, engaging broadly with our community enables us to make informed decisions. Secondly, I have learnt that feedback from our community, no matter how positive or negative should be listened to and respected.

I hope that I have represented you well. I hope that I have listened to you. I hope that I have earned your respect. You certainly have mine! But it’s now time for someone else.

I want to say a big thank you to the staff of Meander Valley Council. They are awesome and we are very fortunate to have such a committed bunch of employees making our little patch the wonderful place it is.

Thank you to my work colleagues at the RDA Tasmania Committee, where I have tried to balance a full-time role with my Council duties for the past nine years. They will be seeing more of me now!

And finally, a huge thank you to my wonderful partner Leith, my daughters, Georgina and Rebecca, my family and friends who have given me so much support along the way.

Hopefully between now and the end of October I will be able to say thanks to many of you before my term concludes.

2018 Local Government Election Calendar Sat 8th Sept - Notice of Election 9.00am Mon 10th September - Nominations Open 6.00pm Thurs 13th Sept - Rolls Close 12 noon Mon 24th Sept - Nominations Close 12 noon Tues 25th Sept - Announcement of Nominations 10.00am Tues 30th October - Close of Polling

Photo | Meander Valley Council