GAWLER Mayor Karen Redman believes she can provide a “fresh approach” to running the Local Government Association (LGA), as she seeks to become its president.

The LGA will elect its new president later this year, with Ms Redman notifying Gawler elected members last week she wished to be nominated for the position.

She is now relying on her chamber to choose her as their nominee, with a decision made at council’s ordinary meeting last night – held after The Bunyip’s print deadline.

Speaking to The Bunyip, Ms Redman said her background in health as a breast care nurse would help navigate the problems local government is set to face during, and after, the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’ll bring a fresh approach to the leadership,” she said. “The LGA do fantastic work, but across the next two years because of what we’re going through around COVID-19 and also climate change.

“Anyone who works in health knows we are collaborative by nature and get things done, but we also care.

“That’s what I mean by a fresh approach. It’s not to say any previous leadership has been particularly bad.”

Tumby Bay Mayor Sam Telfer has been LGA president for the past two years, with the position rotating between a metropolitan and regional representative every 24 months.

He has been the face of the sector’s opposition to rate capping and has worked with councils and the State Government to inform the latter’s local government reform agenda.

Ms Redman is currently chair of the Greater Adelaide Region Organisation of Councils, an LGA sub-committee, and a member of the LGA’s board of directors.

She said it was important female leaders felt comfortable to put themselves forward for leadership positions traditionally occupied by men.

“There’s not enough female leaders,” she said. “And when women do get to these positions there is a lot of pressure on them.

“When women don’t put themselves forward because ‘it’s all too hard’ or they don’t want to get attacked, then girls will never see role models they can aspire too.

“Given we’re 50 per cent of the population, it’s essential we put ourselves forward. I believe I can do a really good job.”

While there is precedent for a council to nominate someone for president from another local government organisation, Ms Redman confirmed she will drop out of the race if her own chamber declines to back her.

She said such a situation would be “disappointing”, but would accept it and “move on”.

“From a Gawler perspective, it’s an opportunity to have Gawler in the spotlight, but in a positive way,” she said.