The outgoing lord mayor of Hobart has backed a majority-Greens group of candidates to carry on her work at the capital city council, while taking a swipe at a “celebrity candidate” and those promising to take the council “back to basics”.
In a newsletter sent on Friday, Anna Reynolds named nine candidates she plans to vote for in this month’s election, including five running for the Greens.
She also defended Zelinda Sherlock over the “appalling” Town Hall snack scandal, saying she had been subjected to “attempted character assassination”.
Her picks include Greens candidates Zelinda Sherlock, Bill Harvey, Trenton Hoare, Angus Templeton and AJ Humphries.
She also endorsed sitting councillors Ryan Posselt and Mike Dutta, along with newcomers Tiffany Ashdown and Susan Wallace.
Reynolds said her first consideration was “whether I think the candidates are open to continuing some of my initiatives at council”.
She is not recontesting and will leave council after the election, ending eight years as lord mayor and 12 years on council.
With the council shrinking from 12 members to nine, Reynolds said “Hobart needs a team of positive, bright and engaged city decision-makers for the next chapter”.
She said she favoured progressive candidates and a new generation of leaders.
“Young leaders can be just as good (if not better) at representing all generations, as older representatives are – but they also bring fresh perspectives, new energy and, in some cases, have a more sophisticated way of looking at the world we live in than some of the older people around the table,” she wrote.
Reynolds contrasted them with conservative candidates, although she did not name anyone.
She said being conservative “in itself is fine”, but that “what I’ve observed from several conservative candidates is an ongoing lack of respect for the council and a deliberate undermining of their colleagues and many democratic conventions”.
“Hobart needs Councillors that can bring creative and positive governance to our beautiful city, not those obsessed with reversing decisions already made and taking us backwards,” she wrote.
She also warned that “vague promises of ‘back to basics’ or a ‘celebrity candidate’ aren’t necessarily a good use of your vote”.
Marti Zucco and Jason Dale both use the phrase “back to basics” in their official candidate statements.
Charles Wooley was earlier this month described as a “washed up celebrity journalist” by Ryan Posselt.
Several other candidates have promised to cut rates, reduce parking costs or remove the Collins Street bike lanes.
A total of 32 candidates are running for a seat on the Hobart City Council, with 11 contesting lord mayor and 10 deputy lord mayor.
Voting is compulsory, with postal votes required to reach the Tasmanian Electoral Commission by 2pm on Tuesday, October 27.
