Asher returns as Geelong mayor

STEPHANIE Asher will continue as the mayor of the City of Greater Geelong, after she was re-elected unopposed to the role by her councillor colleagues during tonight’s special meeting at City Hall.

Cr Asher has been elected for a further term of two years, having already served as mayor between October 2019 and this year’s council elections.

An Ocean Grove resident, Cr Asher was first voted onto the council in 2017.

She was re-elected as a representative of the Bellarine Ward during the recent 2020 council elections.

Cr Asher said she was humbled, grateful and excited to continue as mayor.

“I feel incredibly privileged and honoured to be given the chance to lead this beautiful region once again.

“My priorities will be: fast-tracking key projects and processes to get the economy and community morale up and running; getting the Sustainability Plan into rapid action with input from the community and interest groups; reviewing the budget to focus on critical projects; and setting up a shadow deputy roster once again, to build capacity in the Council team.”

Fellow Bellarine Ward councillor Trent Sullivan was elected unopposed as the deputy mayor.

Cr Sullivan, from Portarlington, is also serving his second term on the council.

He said he was looking forward to supporting the mayor in his new leadership role.

“I’m humbled and honoured to be elected by my fellow councillors for the next two years.

“Now our four-year term begins and we launch straight back into the fray of fighting for our community.

“We need to put the hard yards into rebuilding our local economy and our community by supporting our businesses and community groups, and building the necessary infrastructure to make sure our region will not only survive, but thrive.”

Cr Asher congratulated Cr Sullivan on his appointment as deputy mayor.

“I really look forward to working together and bringing energy and a commitment to getting things done as a team,” she said.

Cr Sullivan replaces Cr Kylie Grzybek as deputy mayor, who served in the role between October 2019 and October this year.