Moore takes Town Hall

Moore won by a huge margin, almost doubling the votes of her nearest rival, the ALP’s Michael Lee.

Key Moore strategist Larry Galbraith told Sydney Star Observer he believed there were three reasons for the landslide: the quality of the candidate, the thuggish Labor sacking of the two previous councils and the failure of Moore’s opponents to convince the electorate she would have trouble holding down two jobs.

The assumption of the electorate was that if Clover believed she could do both jobs, she could do them, Galbraith said.

Galbraith said he believed the State Government had shot itself in the foot by sacking Sydney and South Sydney councils soon before the election. If the two councils had not merged, Lee would have won the City election and former South Sydney councillor Tony Pooley would have been comfortably returned as Mayor, Galbraith said.

Moore will be joined by at least three members of her team, former city planner John McInerney, Robyn Kemmis and Marcelle Hoff.

The fourth Clover ticket runner, gay guesthouse owner and Surry Hills heritage advocate Phillip Black will find out on Friday if he has won one of the last council spots.

Clover Moore and her keen team of volunteers have won the right to take over Town Hall, with a convincing win at Saturday’s election.

Former South Sydney councillor Shayne Mallard was the one Liberal candidate returned.

Mallard said although he would have liked to get more Liberal candidates on council, he was happy with the result.

There were some very strong independents on the ticket, including Clover Moore and her juggernaut of supporters, Mallard said.

I think Clover Moore and I share about 80 to 90 per cent of community views. I think her team will reflect that view as well, and I think she’s going to have a working council.

Mallard said he had not spoken to Moore about the promises he made in his election campaign, such as the refurbishment of 94 Oxford St as a gay and lesbian cultural centre and the introduction of street safety cameras.

Meantime, while everyone was talking about the Moore/Lee battle, gay and lesbian community candidates and advocates put in strong performances in other local government areas.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association board member Trent Zimmerman has won a position on North Sydney Council. Zimmerman told the Star one of his main priorities was rejuvenating the North Sydney CBD.

I’d like to make that a stronger retail and entertainment precinct, he said. On weekends you could shoot a gun in there and no one would hear it.

In Randwick, openly gay Liberal candidate Bruce Notley-Smith was returned for a second term.

And Bankstown Mayor and strong gay and lesbian advocate Helen Westwood was easily returned to council.