Mayor elected and Council sworn in

Published on 19 November 2020

Cr Danny Claridge has been appointed Mayor of Benalla Rural City Council and will lead the Council that was sworn in last night for the next 12 months.

The newly appointed group of Councillors hold office until September 2024 and include five former Councillors, three former Mayors, two first time Councillors, five men and two women.

The Mayor, and newly appointed Deputy Mayor, Cr Bernie Hearn hold their positions for the next 12 months. A Mayor and Deputy Mayor positions are voted on each year in November.

The seven Councillors are:

Mayor, Cr Danny Claridge
First elected - 9 November 2016 – 24 October 2020
Mayor - 13 November 2019 – 24 October 2020

Deputy Mayor, Cr Bernie Hearn
First Elected - 9 November 2016 – 24 October 2020
Deputy Mayor - 13 November 2019 – 23 October 2020

Cr Peter Davis
First elected – 30 November 2005 – Councillor for 15 years
Deputy Mayor - 14 November 2018 – 13 November 2019

Cr Don Firth
First elected – 3 December 2008 - 27 October 2012
Then again - 9 November 2016 – 24 October 2020
Mayor - 9 November 2016 to 14 September 2018

Cr Justin King
First elected - 31 October 2012 –22 October 2016
Mayor – 5 November 2014 – 22 October 2016

Cr Gail O’Brien and Cr Punarji Hewa Gunaratne are first-time Councillors. 

Mayor, Cr Danny Claridge said the new Council is diverse in many ways.

“On behalf of my fellow Councillors, we are honoured to be elected and to have the opportunity to serve our community for the next four years,” Cr Claridge said.

“Being Mayor is a responsibility and a privilege and I thank my fellow Councillors for the confidence they have shown in me by electing me to this position.

“This Council has a broad mix of people, including former Councillors and those new to the role as well as people with different life experiences and different professional backgrounds and skills.

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