UPDATE
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
Sutherland Shire Deputy Mayor Councillor Hassan Awada said he received a huge shock when he was told he was ineligible to contest the September 10 council election.
“I am devastated,” he said.
“I feel I have let down my team, I have let down a l lot of people.”
Cr Awada, who has lived at Bexley for family reasons in recent years, moved back to the shire six weeks ago after buying a house at Kareela.
However, he failed to change his address on the electoral rolls before they closed at 6pm on Monday August 1 for the council elections.
Cr Awada, who owns other property in the shire, also failed to re-register on that basis by the required time. That provided the means for him to stand at the last election.
”With all the running around I was doing moving house, I just forgot,” he said.
“I found out on Tuesday, a day too late.
“Liberals Party officials saw my Bexley address when they were going through the nomination forms.
“They said, ‘If you are not on the rolls in the shire, you are ineligible to stand’.”
Cr Awada said he contacted the Electoral Commission and looked at the legislation, and found he had no right of appeal.
EARLIER
Sutherland Shire Deputy Mayor Councillor Hassan Awada has been ruled out of the September 10 council election by an electoral technicality.
Cr Awada purchased a new home in Kareela last month and advised the NSW Electoral Commission of his new address a couple of days after the cut off date.
“The NSW Electoral Commission will not allow Cr Awada to register as a candidate,” mayor Carmelo Pesce said.
”Cr Awada is devastated that this small error has cost him the chance to continue to serve the community he loves.
“For the past four years Councillor Awada has dedicated his time to representing the people of C Ward.”
Cr Pesce said Cr Tom Croucher would lead the Liberal ticket in C Ward, with shire resident Dan Nicholls taking the second spot.
Cr Pesce said Cr Awada’s achievements during his term on council included the introduction of a new tree replacement policy, upgrading of Sylvania shopping centre at Tom Uglys Bridge and a new community recycling facility that is being established at Kareela.
He had also been part of the team that delivered the Kareela synthetic playing fields.
