Watts Won’t Be Mayor

LEE Watts who garnered more than 27% of the vote in the Upper Hunter Shire Council election has said she will not be putting her hand up for the position of Mayor at tonight’s first Councillor meeting.

In a Facebook post Mrs Watts thanked her supporters for their congratulations and appreciated their enthusiasm for her to be Mayor, but explained she did not have the necessary number of Councillors to become Mayor.

A post on a community noticeboard called on Lee to be Deputy Mayor: “Now its up to Wayne to vote Lee as his second,rather than Maurice, if he has any credence, or belief in any community values!”

Mrs Watts also said she had spoken to Wayne Bedggood about supporting him in the role of Deputy Mayor in an attempt to unify the Council and the community, but advised it was also not an option.

“I had let the Mayor know I would support him as his deputy so that we could unify the community over the next four years and put an end to the factionalism on Council,” said Mrs Watts.

“But this also won’t happen as again the majority of the Councillors would have to agree to that,” she said.

“This is how often politics works, votes do count but only up until you are elected, then the factions take over.

“I am proud to be the people’s Councillor and thank you all, especially the 27% who gave me their number one vote and have placed their trust in me,” she said.

“But I am sure that with the other Councillors we will work hard to achieve great outcomes for this Shire as well as improve connections with the community, to be transparent in what we are doing and to be clear with messages and information to everyone,” Lee Watts said.

Wayne Bedggood had preferenced Maurice Collison during the election and it is likely Mr Collison will support Mr Bedggood to become Mayor in return for him becoming Deputy Mayor.