Hobart’s longest-serving councillor Marti Zucco says his time in politics has come to an end after losing the seat he had held since 1992.
Zucco was one of three sitting councillors to lose their seats when the Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC) finalised the count today, with the council cut from 12 members to nine.
“While I am naturally disappointed with the election outcome, I respect the decision of the voters,” he said in a statement.
“My passion for Hobart and its future remains as strong as ever, but my time in the public political arena has come to an end.”
Zucco became the council’s longest-serving member in 2020 and said he had served under seven lord mayors.
In his farewell statement, he said he was leaving council with “serious concerns” about matters that had occurred over the past two years.
He said there had been “extraordinary failures of transparency and accountability”, including what he believed was “a concerted effort to conceal matters that should have been subjected to proper public scrutiny”.
He said whistleblowers who raised legitimate concerns had endured what he considered “deplorable treatment”, rather than being supported and protected.
“These are matters that should not be ignored simply because an election has concluded or elected representatives have moved on,” he said.
Zucco also said there had been “selective forces working against” him during the campaign.
Zucco called for an overhaul of local government elections, describing the three-week postal voting process as a “farce”.
He said it should be replaced with a single election day, with voting at polling booths as in state and federal elections.
He also said the local government code of conduct was “fundamentally flawed” and needed an urgent review.
“In my experience, the system has become increasingly vulnerable to misuse, prolonged disputes and unnecessary expenditure of public resources,” he said.
Zucco said abuse and intimidation of candidates were “not exclusive to any one side of politics” and he had experienced it himself during the campaign.
“No candidate, regardless of their political beliefs, should be subjected to intimidation, harassment or the deliberate destruction of campaign material,” he said.
Zucco also ran for lord mayor, campaigning on a pledge to remove the Collins Street bike lane, but was excluded during the count. Charles Wooley won the race.
His first preference vote for council fell from 7% in 2022 to 4.7%. He polled more first preferences than Louise Elliot, but she finished ahead of him on preferences.
Elliot, who kept her seat, said “a big part of my heart is breaking” over his loss.
“I’ve never seen anyone more passionate and more dedicated and more hardworking,” she told Pulse. “Hobart is in Marti’s blood.”
Ryan Posselt thanked Zucco for his “long service to the city”.
“Anyone who puts their hand up for election and anyone who serves in the public office should be respected for that service,” Posselt said.
Returning councillor Simon Behrakis said he was “devastated” Zucco would not be joining the new council.
He said Zucco had worked hard during the campaign to support other candidates, not just himself.
“I leave with my head held high, proud of my contribution, my independence, my principles and the opportunity to have served the city I love,” Zucco said.
“To the residents, ratepayers, business community, former colleagues, council staff, friends and supporters who have been part of this remarkable journey, I extend my heartfelt thanks.”
“Thank you, Hobart, for 34 remarkable years. It has been an extraordinary privilege to serve you.”
