The NSW local government elections will be held on Saturday, December 4. The SSH profiles six lord mayoral candidates representing six parties – the Greens, Labor, Liberal, Small Business, Team Clover, and Unite for Sydney.
Greens – Sylvie Ellsmore
Sylvie is a community organiser, lawyer and feminist. She has worked with environmental organisations, unions and Aboriginal groups, coordinating anti-racism and justice campaigns, and winning protections for cultural heritage and native title.
As a Marrickville Councillor (2012-2016) Sylvie worked with the community to deliver new affordable housing, the award-winning Marrickville Library, additional bike paths, and new public green spaces.
She has managed community organisations, delivered anti-violence programs for the government, and advised councils on planning and heritage protection.
Sylvie is a founding member of the Redfern, Eveleigh, Darlington, Waterloo residents’ action group (REDWatch), a volunteer karate teacher at Jin Sei Ryu Karate-Do and a Board member of Inner Sydney Voice. She currently works at the University of Sydney, supporting community research and partnerships in youth mental health.
Labor – Councillor Linda Scott
Linda is a progressive champion, currently serving as a Labor councillor on the City of Sydney Council, formerly serving as Deputy Lord Mayor. She gets results, successfully advocating for increased City action on climate change and doubling library funding. She has won new affordable housing, and increased support for those experiencing homelessness. She has successfully advocated for new childcare and skate ramps, and spearheaded City action to fight racism and support refugees. She sets the national agenda as President of the Australian Local Government Association, and is the first woman to be elected as President of Local Government NSW, the peak body for NSW councils. She lives in Newtown with her husband and two children.
Liberal – Shauna Jarrett
Shauna believes “It’s time for a refresh at Town Hall. After 17 years of the same old administration, the City needs renewal.” Shauna and her strong team of local Liberals will be strong advocates for residents and business alike in the Covid recovery period.
Shauna owns her own legal and governance advisory company and has extensive experience as a director of many community organisations and boards. She is currently on the boards of the Australian Museum, Force Majeure and Seton Villa, an NFP that empowers the lives of women with intellectual disabilities.
Small Business – Councillor Angela Vithoulkas Leader
Angela’s business experience spans more than 30 years, having bought, sold and built dozens of businesses and employed hundreds of people.
Her political career began in 2012. Since then, she has been twice elected City of Sydney Councillor and is currently serving her second term. She founded The Small Business Party in 2018 – running local, state and federal elections. She has consistently been standing up for small business owners and fighting for them and their families.
Angela’s successful flagship store, VIVO Café closed on August 24, 2018, after 17 years of trading and three years of enduring the devastating construction of Sydney Light Rail.
Throughout this experience Angela helped hundreds of small businesses fight for financial assistance and justice and has launched a major class action against the NSW government suing for over $400 million.
Angela is a multi-award-winning business owner and founder and host of a new YouTube Channel – SME TV And Podcasts.
With a strong focus on “giving small business a voice”, she continues to advocate and fight for the community right across NSW, looking for justice for those who have no voice and no champion to fight for them.
Team Clover – Clover Moore
Clover Moore was elected Lord Mayor of Sydney in 2004, the first popularly elected woman to lead the City of Sydney (CofS). She is also the longest serving mayor since city government incorporation in 1842.
In both state and local governments, Clover has championed progressive policies, achieving reforms which increase government transparency, defend our environment, protect the vulnerable and advance animal welfare.
As Lord Mayor, Clover has led the development and implementation of the City’s internationally renowned long-term plan – Sustainable Sydney 2030.
Under her leadership, the CofS has developed a global reputation for delivering award-winning facilities; protecting and enhancing open space; promoting design excellence for private development; delivering new transport options, particularly safe cycling; promoting and expanding the City’s cultural and creative life and initiating progressive solutions to complex city social problems such as affordable housing and related homelessness.
Clover remains close to and part of the community she represents.
Unite for Sydney – Yvonne Weldon
Yvonne, the first Aboriginal-Australian candidate for Lord Mayor of Sydney, will bring the same audacity, creative energy and fierce optimism to Town Hall that her aunt Mum Shirl brought to her life-long fight to make Sydney a more just, honourable city.
Yvonne Weldon is the elected chair of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, deputy chair of the NSW Australia Day Council, a board member of Domestic Violence NSW, and a board member of Redfern Jarjum College. Ms Weldon has 30 years’ experience working in key government and Aboriginal organisations. She has a passion for improving the lives of all through health, social justice, Aboriginal advancement, children’s rights, education, child protection, research and evaluation.
Yvonne’s vision for Sydney is of a vibrant, inclusive city humming with opportunity equally accessible to all Sydneysiders.
