West Tamar mayor Christina Holmdahl has announced she will not stand again at the October local government elections, ending 16 years on council.
Holmdahl made the announcement on Tuesday, thanking the community she has served in northern Tasmania since her first election in 2009.
“Serving this community has been one of the greatest privileges of my life,” she said.
“Every challenge, every decision and every achievement have been shaped by the trust that you placed in me and in our council.”
Holmdahl was elected as a councillor in 2009, later serving as deputy mayor before becoming mayor in 2014.
During that time she also served as president of the Local Government Association of Tasmania and vice-president of the Australian Local Government Association.
She said the region’s progress had been a collective effort.
“They belong to our dedicated council staff, my fellow councillors, our community, our volunteers and most of all the people of the West Tamar, who have always shown passion, drive and a willingness to work together,” she said.
Born to Polish parents who emigrated to Australia in 1949, Holmdahl worked in media in Hobart before spending 14 years in Canberra producing political reports and documentaries.
She later worked in public affairs in Adelaide before moving to Clarence Point in the West Tamar in 2000.
She joined the Northern Ratepayers Association and lobbied the state government for a $3 million grant to fix a section of the West Tamar Highway before running for council in 2009.
In 2023 she was inducted into the Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women.
The local government elections will be held in October.
