Council Statement - Resignation of Cr Mark Arians and Cr Sonia Wright

Published on 03 February 2020

Earlier today Council received letters of resignation from Patchell Ward representative, Cr Mark Arians and Yarran Ward representative, Cr Sonia Wright, with their resignations effective immediately.

The resignations of former Councillors Arians and Wright create extraordinary vacancies in the Patchell and Yarran wards. As the next local government elections, scheduled to occur in October 2020, are more than six months away, these vacancies will need to be filled.

Council will notify the Minister for Local Government and the Victorian Electoral Commission that these vacancies exist, with the VEC to manage the process of filling these vacancies – either by countback using the votes polled at the 2016 elections or via a by-election. This process is expected to take several weeks.

Former Councillors Arians and Wright were, prior to their resignation, facing proceedings in relation to alleged breaches of Council’s Code of Conduct and Values for Elected Members and also the Local Government Act 1989. As a result of their resignations, these proceedings are unable to continue and are effectively abandoned.

The community can be assured that these resignations will not impact on the operations of Council and it is business as usual. Council is focussed on ensuring its high quality services and programs continue as usual, with a current emphasis being on delivering the $2 million of Federally-funded drought projects and events across the Gannawarra communities throughout 2020.

TOM O’REILLY

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

GANNAWARRA SHIRE COUNCIL