Greenwich still mum on run

Greenwich still mum on run

Australian Marriage Equality convenor Alex Greenwich continues to remain tight-lipped about whether he intends to run for state MP Clover Moore’s Sydney seat.

Greenwich, who ran in eighth place on Moore’s council ticket, is widely expected to declare his intention to run for the state seat as an independent with Moore’s backing this week.

“It’s something I’m considering and I will make a decision in the not too distant future,” Greenwich told the Star Observer today.

Moore was re-elected comfortably to the Sydney mayoralty which means she must resign before the next council meeting this Friday because of legislation passed by the state Liberal government which forces her to choose between state and local government office.

Tony Abbott’s openly gay sister Christine Forster has also won a seat on Sydney Council for the Liberal Party.

Forster succeeded in claiming the 10th spot last week as counting was finalised, with another spot going to the pro-business Living Sydney party.

Moore’s independent team went down a spot and no longer have a majority on council, however Moore will be able to use her casting vote as Lord Mayor to get motions passed.

“Once again the people of Sydney strongly endorsed our vision of a city that is green, global and connected,” Moore said after the result was announced.

Greenwich said he had learnt a lot about the area and what people expected from the state government while campaigning for the council elections.

“Certainly all that campaigning I did and the result that was achieved will factor into any decision I make about running for the seat of Sydney,” he said.

“What’s been made clear to me is that this is not a Labor seat, a Greens seat or a Liberal seat; it’s a Sydney seat and people really value a strong independent voice.”

Greenwich said he saw the key issues in the electorate as transport, liveability, access to safe public housing and climate change.

It’s unclear if Greenwich will be able to comfortably take the seat as an independent. The Greens were expected to be strong competition, however this is less certain given their vote was halved at the council elections and they were reduced to just one seat.

His main rival will be Liberal candidate and former Sydney councillor Shayne Mallard, who is also openly gay.

The Liberals almost seized the seat at the 2011 state election when another gay local, Adrian Bartels, came very close to taking the seat from Moore, who managed to get across on preferences.

It is understood Bartels lost a power struggle for preselection to Mallard earlier this year and bowed out of the race.

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