Mayor John Davis and former Mayor, Councillor Reg Kidd of Orange City Council in New South Wales have called for the abolition of group tickets and preferential voting in council elections, arguing that a system where every one ran as an independent would be more democratic.
Cr Kidd says that the reason behind his and Mayor Davis’ stance is that “Too many political groups run tickets. As a result you see someone elected with very few primary votes and someone with a substantial number misses out.”
Cr Kidd suggests that, “A simple first past the post system, with no tickets and no preferences, would make election campaigns more transparent. It would encourage genuine participation by interested candidates, not just those who are running on a ticket to help someone else get in. It would also be easier for voters to understand.
“The majority of voters in local government elections are becoming disenchanted with the way local government is moving closer to the style of state and federal politics. Quite a few people are using councils simply as a stepping stone for state or federal political ambitions.”
The proposed shake up to the way councils are elected would require state and federal agreement and the support of a majority of councils, as legislation and regulations would have to be altered. Cr Kidd thinks, however, that “vested interests” will stand in the way of the election reforms ever going ahead.
