FIRSTLY I would like to sincerely congratulate the re-elected Mayor Karen Redman.
Secondly I would like to explain the reason that I stood. I am a political activist and try not to stand by if something important is going on that I may be able to influence.
Ten years ago I drew up a boundary reform proposal for an expanded Greater Gawler. It took time to gain support from the administration, Mayor and the majority of Council.
My understanding was that Candidates Tooley and Little are against it or not supportive.
I thank those who voted for me and then chose their second preference, I estimate about three fifths went to Redman and one fifth each to Tooley and Little.
Broadly speaking it is reasonable to con- clude that had I not stood then Karen would have lost and we would have had a Mayor who was not supportive of boundary reform.
It is time to get on with perhaps the most important issue facing Gawler for our future.
With continuous mutterings by the Premier about “amalgamating” councils, we Gawler have to ensure our own identity.
On the other hand I oppose ‘super councils’, they never deliver the promised efficiency and lower rates.
What they do deliver is a more remote council chamber, lower participation rates and a less transparent process for rate payers.
So I do not want Gawler to be swallowed up by Playford or Salisbury. Nor do I want our Council to have its headquarters at Kapunda or Nuriootpa.
Maintaining a united Gawler community of common interest, which already includes Hewett and will include the development area of Concordia is more important and is certainly more important to me than being Mayor.
That is why I stood even though I was bound to lose.
John Bolton,
Gawler
