April 22, 2015
(Photo: Facebook)
In February, Gympie Council invited nominations from suitably qualified people to fill the vacant positions left in the divisional seats of former councillor Tony Perrett (Division 6) and new mayor Mick Curran (Division 7).
Cr Perrett was elected as the LNP Member for Gympie at the January 31 State Election and Cr Curran was elected Mayor at a by-election earlier this year.
Cr Currie will represent Division 6 which takes in much of the old Kilkivan Shire.
The second replacement councillor appointed today is well-known teacher Bob Leitch, who worked at Gympie State High School for many years and is a former president and player /coach of the Gympie Devils Rugby League club.
Cr Leitch will represent Division 7, the southside of Gympie town.
The timing of the vacancies meant Gympie CEO Bernard Smith could simply invite nominations from shire residents to fill the vacant positions until the next Council election is held in March 2016.
Mayor Curran said today the Council had received 49 applications for the two positions so it had been “a fair process” to sort through them.
Each applicant made a presentation to the full Council before a shortlist was drawn up.
Applicants on the shortlist were then interviewed before a ballot of councillors was taken.
From this ballot, a recommendation was put to today’s open Council meeting.
Cr Currie and Cr Leitch were voted in unanimously.
“It is very pleasing to sell well-known locals selected,” Mayor Curran said.
