O’Brien back as Rockdale mayor

During a tightly contested vote last Wednesday night, Labor councillor O’Brien beat Liberal candidate Peter Poulos by eight votes to seven with the help of three independents, while Michael Nagi voted with the Liberal Party.

Independent Liz Barlow was re-elected by the same margin to a second term as deputy mayor, defeating fellow independent Michael Nagi.

Cr O’Brien said he would continue to focus on Bexley pool, the new Rockdale library and other important infrastructure projects in his second term.

‘‘I’m really pleased and feel very privileged to be re-elected as mayor of one of the most diverse and multicultural communities in Sydney,’’ Cr O’Brien said.

‘‘I said in my first term I wanted us to deliver the big projects the community wants. 

‘‘That is still the case. We’ve made progress on Bexley pool and the library.

‘‘We’ve got a committee up and running looking into the best site for the Arncliffe Youth Centre.

‘‘We’re in a financial position to deliver these projects and I will be pushing for us to do that.’’

The Liberals’ failure to seize the top job appears to have worsened the ill feeling between Rockdale councillors, with Liberal councillors and Cr Nagi resorting to personal attacks against independent James Macdonald, who voted for Cr O’Brien.

 When approached for comment on the re-election of councillors O’Brien and Barlow, Liberal councillor Petros Kalligas restricted his remarks to condemning Cr Macdonald for supporting Cr O’Brien.

Cr Nagi called Cr Macdonald a ‘‘Labor stooge’’ but offered no such damning comments on Crs Barlow or Mark Hanna, who were also elected as independents and supported Cr O’Brien.

In response, Cr Macdonald said he would not be drawn into a fight with the Liberal councillors as it was not in the interest of residents. 

He said he had always stated he would support a Labor mayor for two years and then a Liberal mayor for the same period.

Are you pleased to see Shane O’Brien back at the helm of Rockdale Council?