What is ‘New England’ has many definitions, but we work with the 12 Local Government Areas of the New England North West.
Some of our councils are facing significant change, with Gwydir alone seeing 6 retirements, and the mayors of Gunnedah and Moree not recontesting. Armidale has a whopping 39 candidates on the ballot and the most party endorsed candidates, Narrabri has 38. At the other end of he spectrum, Uralla’s eight candidates have already won – as both wards are uncontested – but there is significant shakeup in the prominent local leaders taking their seats. And the Walcha contest looks to be shaping up as the most brutal, with the divided community’s feelings about wind power set to shape the next council.
Below are all of the candidates in our region contesting the local government elections on September 14, simply click on your council to see the details. Those candidates with an asterix (*) are current members of that council.
Armidale Regional Council
Armidale’s council will reduce from 11 to 9 councillors this election, and 39 candidates are on the crowded ballot. Cr Paul Packham has not renominated, while Cr Jon Galletely is in an unwinnable position of last on current Mayor Sam Coupland’s ticket, which has Todd Redwood and Paul Gaddes at 2 and 3. Debra O’Brien is also not likely to get elected from the third spot on the Labor ticket, making way for Caroline Chapman in position 2, which Susan McMichael is assured another term in first spo. Brad Widders continues to make his mark in his own way, the only incumbent not in a group ticket. Notable challengers include some old hands having another run in the form of Rob Taber and Rob Richardson.
Labor – Susan McMichael
McMICHAEL Susan*
ARMIDALE
CHAPMAN Caroline
ARMIDALE
O’BRIEN Debra*
ARMIDALE
LANGENBERG Yvonne
ARMIDALE
WARD Lisa
ARMIDALE
The Greens (Dorothy Robinson)
ROBINSON Dorothy*
ARMIDALE
O’HARA Elizabeth
ARMIDALE
SCHULTZ Pat
ARMIDALE
DAVIES Gayle
ARMIDALE
CAIRNS Gay (Alice)
ARMIDALE
Group C – Eli Imad
IMAD Eli
LLANGOTHLIN
LENEHAN Rob
BLACK MOUNTAIN
HEAGNEY Peter
GUYRA
JACKSON Robert
GUYRA
HOOPER Jypsi
LLANGOTHLIN
Group D – Sam Coupland
Samuel Harcourt COUPLAND*
ARMIDALE
Todd Antony REDWOOD*
ARMIDALE
Paul Matthew GADDES*
ARMIDALE
Kay Maree ENDRES
ARMIDALE
Jane MACTIER
TENTERDEN
Jane Melinda SCHMUDE
ARMIDALE
Melanie Anne FILLIOS
ARMIDALE
Jonathan GALLETLY*
ARMIDALE
Group E – Rob Taber
TABER Rob
DANGARSLEIGH
RICHARDSON Rob
ARMIDALE
GAMAGE Siri
ARMIDALE
NEWBERRY Josephine
WARDS MISTAKE
BERRIMAN Andy
THALGARRAH
Group F – Margaret O’Connor
O’CONNOR Margaret*
ARMIDALE
FLINT Brian
ARMIDALE
MORAN Kerry
ARMIDALE
NEWBERRY Bruce
ARMIDALE
McKENZIE Deni
ARMIDALE
EDMONDS Janet
GUYRA
Ungrouped Candidates
FITTLER Joshua
ARMIDALE
LEDGER Natasha
ARMIDALE
WILD Jenny
ARMIDALE
WIDDERS Bradley*
ARMIDALE
NARAYANAMURTHY Madank
ARMIDALE
Glen Innes Severn Shire Council
No group tickets and just seven councillors to be elected. Jack Parry is the only councillor not to renominate, so it’s likely to be business as usual in Glen Innes.
VOSPER Anne
GLEN INNES
Independent
SPARKS Carol*
GLEN INNES
THE GREENS
ALT Timothy*
RANGERS VALLEY
Independent
WEATHERALL Elena
GLEN INNES
Independent
BANHAM Rob*
EMMAVILLE
Independent
DAVIS Margot
GLEN INNES
SCOTT David
GLEN INNES
ELPHICK Max
GLEN INNES
Independent
PARSONS Andrew*
GLEN INNES
Independent
ARANDALE Troy*
GLEN INNES
Independent
Gunnedah Shire Council
Mayor Jamie Chaffey exits to pursue federal politics as the National’s candidate for Parkes. Murray O’Keefe and David Moses are also not recontesting. No group tickets and only eleven candidates are vying for the nine seats on council. Labor’s Kate McGrath is the only party endorsed candidate.
FULLER Colleen*
GUNNEDAH
MOORE Cameron
GUNNEDAH
NEWELL Linda
GUNNEDAH
LUKE Ann*
GUNNEDAH
MCARTHUR Juliana*
GUNNEDAH
MCGRATH Kate*
GUNNEDAH
NEAVE Mitchum
BREEZA
HOOKE Robert (Rob)*
GUNNEDAH
PETERSEN Greg
CARROLL
HODDLE Robert*
GUNNEDAH
McALLAN Tammey
GUNNEDAH
Gwydir Shire Council
Six of the nine members of Gwydir Shire Council are not recontesting their seats, so this small council is looking at very significant change in leadership. Marilyn Dixon, Lyndon Mulligan, and Tiffany Galvin are the remaining three recontesting.
Group – Ravi Gill
GILL Ravi
WARIALDA
WILLMOT Adrian
WARIALDA
Ungrouped candidates
DICK Stuart
BINGARA
DIXON Marilyn (Mashy)*
BINGARA
BISHTON John
BINGARA
CRUMP Sarah
BINGARA
MULLIGAN Lyndon*
CROPPA CREEK
COLEMAN Sean
BLUE NOBBY
GALVIN Tiffany*
BINGARA
REDDAN Allan
GINEROI
SHERMAN Rachel
WARIALDA
CRISPIN Scot
BINGARA
COLLINS Mick
WARIALDA
ROBERTSON Sally-Anne
BINGARA
Inverell Shire Council
Again only eleven candidates contesting the nine seats, so business as usual for one of the most respected councils in the area. Di Baker and Stewart Berryman are exiting, with former general manager of radio stations 2NZ and Gem FM and National Party political staffer, Greg Kachel, widely expected to be elected.
Group A – Kate Dight
DIGHT Kate*
YETMAN
HOOKER Ian
INVERELL
Group B – Paul King
KING Paul*
INVERELL
WILKS Wendy*
INVERELL
Group C – Paul Harmon
HARMON Paul*
INVERELL
ROSS John (Jacko)*
INVERELL
Group D – Jo Williams
WILLIAMS Jo*
INVERELL
BROWN Fiona
INVERELL
Ungrouped candidates
BROWN Kelvin
INVERELL
MURRAY Graem
INVERELL
KACHEL Greg
INVERELL
Liverpool Plains Shire Council
A healthy field for the seven seat council, but only one retirement from Cr Moules means there is unlikely to be significant change to LPSC.
EYKAMP Lynn
QUIRINDI
ROBERTSON James
WALLABADAH
SIMKIN Charlie
QUIRINDI
COHEN Terry*
QUIRINDI
HAWKINS Doug*
QUIRINDI
SADLER-SMALL Ebonie
WALLABADAH
CAIN Shawn
WERRIS CREEK
LAWSON Donna*
QUIPOLLY
MACZI Theodore
WERRIS CREEK
CUDMORE Kenneth*
QUIRINDI
WYNNE Yvonne
QUIRINDI
ALLAN Jason*
QUIRINDI
Moree Plains Shire Council
The strong country women of Moree have always been a force to be reckoned with, and they may very well be an all female council after this election, with only four men on the ballot, and none of them currently on council. The potential spoiler is Peter Mailler, former head of the Country Minded party and well known ag leader. There’s only one group ticket on the ballot too – that of current Deputy Mayor Susannah Pearse.
Group – Susannah Pearse
PEARSE Susannah
PALLAMALLAWA
SAUER Brooke
MOREE
Ungrouped candidates
HODGKINSON Dominique
MOREE
DILLON Meryl
MOREE
MUNN Karen
GURLEY
JAMES Kelly
MOREE
TAYLOR Liz
MOREE
CASSELLS Kerry
MOREE
IVANOV Michael
ASHLEY
COCHRANE Mekayla
MOREE
TIGHE Wayne
MOREE
MAILLER Peter
BOGGABILLA
WILLIAMS Debra
MOREE
RITCHIE Stephen
MOREE
MCGRADY Frederick
MOREE
Narrabri Shire Council
Rivalling Armidale for the most hotly contested council, 38 candidates are competing for the nine seats in Narrabri, and in stark contrast to neighbouring Moree, very few women are on the ballot. With one of two current female councillors and the youngest person on Council, Lisa Richardson, not on the ballot after having an unexpected baby last year, and the other, Catherine Redding, ungrouped, it will be up to the voters to ensure the Narrabri Shire Council does not revert to being an all OWM affair.
Group A – Joshua ROBERTS-GARNSEY
ROBERTS-GARNSEY Joshua
NARRABRI
ALEXANDERSON Emma
NARRABRI
BOEHM Rohan*
NARRABRI
DUFFEY Ian
JACKS CREEK
BROWNING Robert*
NARRABRI
Group B – Darrell Tiemens
TIEMENS Darrell*
NARRABRI
BROWN Amanda
NARRABRI
STRAHLE Mark
BOHENA CREEK
HARVEY Peter
NARRABRI
KIRKBY Karen
BOHENA CREEK
Group C – Gregory Lamont
LAMONT Gregory
NARRABRI
DUNCAN James (Jock)
MAULES CREEK
WILSON Jennifer
NARRABRI
BINGE Marilyn
NARRABRI
CARRIGAN John
NARRABRI
Group D – Ethan Towns
TOWNS Ethan
WEE WAA
DEWSON Andrew
WEE WAA
WHITTON Roxanne
WEE WAA
WHILLAS Ryan
WEE WAA
MELTON Bernadette
WEE WAA
Group E – Ian Passmore
PASSMORE Ian
WEE WAA
BENNETT Lloyd
NARRABRI
OUDENRYN Damian
WEE WAA
CRUTCHER Mark
WEE WAA
FERGUSON Kent
GWABEGAR
Group F – Brett Nolan
NOLAN Brett
NARRABRI
JANSSON Jocellin
NARRABRI
NOTT Matthew
NARRABRI
STANFORD Kodey
NARRABRI
DENNISS Kat
NARRABRI
Ungrouped Candidates
STOLTENBERG Glen
NARRABRI
DICKINSON Brett*
NARRABRI
GUEST Peter
BOGGABRI
BULLOCK Matthew
WEE WAA
FLOWER Ken
NARRABRI
REDDING Catherine*
NARRABRI
ERATHNAGE Navin
NARRABRI
ARMSTRONG Colin
NARRABRI
Tamworth Regional Council
Just the two parties fielding group tickets for our largest council, with most of the known councillors ungrouped in their quest to be returned to one of the nine seats available. There is a bit of a seismic shift on the way, regardless of the result, with the respected Deputy Mayor Helen Tickle is not recontesting after 16 years service, while Phil Betts is stepping down after 33 years on Council.
Group A – Labor
MEARS Stephen*
HILLVUE
HUGHES Laura
HILLVUE
ROBINSON Thomas
KOOTINGAL
McHUGH Denise
HILLVUE
RINDO Sergio
MOORE CREEK
Group B – Greens
BROOKE Ryan
HILLVUE
TOLMIE Gemma-Lea
HILLVUE
EMOJONG Sewa
NORTH TAMWORTH
GUNNING Robin
NORTH TAMWORTH
FOGARTY Catherine
HILLVUE
Ungrouped candidates
COATES Judy*
CALALA
IMPEY Charles
HILLVUE
NORTH Brendon
HILLVUE
BUDD Jeffrey
MOORE CREEK
WEBB Russell*
NORTH TAMWORTH
RODDA Mark*
SOUTH TAMWORTH
TAIT Ray
HILLVUE
FENN Marie
CALALA
SHARPHAM Matt
TINTINHULL
GILLETT Daniel
EAST TAMWORTH
MEYER Greig
WARRAL
SUTHERLAND Marc*
HILLVUE
WILLIAMSON Heidi
CALALA
BURKE Bede*
BECTIVE
Tenterfield Shire Council
Arguably the most troubled local council in the region struggling with massive financial issues, it is also the only one to use a five-ward system usually only seen in very large councils to ensure that each part of the geographic area is represented. Two councillors are elected from each of the five wards, also making it the council with the largest number of elected members. Ward B is uncontested meaning that Roger Turner and mayor Bronwyn Petrie will be automatically declared elected.
Ward A
BONNER Tim*
LISTON
RAYMOND Ben
LEGUME
PURCELL Gregory
JENNINGS
Ward B (uncontested)
TURNER Roger
DRAKE
PETRIE Bronwyn*
TENTERFIELD
Ward C
MOYLAN Joshua
TENTERFIELD
PETTY Peter
JENNINGS
MURPHY Peter*
TENTERFIELD
Ward D
MACNISH John
TENTERFIELD
BANCROFT Owen
TENTERFIELD
CROSTHWAITE Allen
TENTERFIELD
RHODES Kim*
TENTERFIELD
Ward E
SAUER Greg*
TENTERFIELD
SING Matthew
TENTERFIELD
PETERS Thomas
SANDY FLAT
Uralla Shire Council
Uralla is the least contested council election in the region. In fact it’s not contested. Split into two very simple wards of 4 representatives each, both wards only got 4 candidates. There will be a fairly significant change to the small village’s leadership however, with local powerhouse Tara Toomey not recontesting, but David Mailler of Meralli Solar (and brother of Peter who is contesting Moree’s council election), and former independent candidate for New England Adam Blakester, amongst the new faces. Mayor Robert Bell has been re-elected unopposed.
Ward A (Uncontested)
MAILLER David
URALLA
O’CONNOR Tom*
URALLA
BLAKESTER Adam
INVERGOWRIE
PETROV Lone*
ROCKY RIVER
Ward B (Uncontested)
Candidate ballot name
Locality as enrolled
BURROWS Sarah*
BALALA
DORAN Leanne*
ROCKY RIVER
ARNOLD Kathrine
URALLA
PHILP Jen
URALLA
Walcha Council
No groups are contesting the 8 seats of Walcha’s small but effective council, with the previous ward system abandoned this election after being voted out in a 2021 referendum. The bruising community debate around wind farms has clearly had an impact, with six of the eight councillors not recontesting their council seats – only Mayor Eric Noakes and Anne-Marie Pointing continuing on – and a number of figures both for and against the REZ developments on the ballot.
