Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Blacktown’s Third MP Mayor

MEDIA RELEASE

16 October 2017

The Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Stephen Bali is the third Mayor of the city to be elected to the NSW parliament.

“Mayor Bali’s election over the weekend is not the first time a Mayor of Blacktown has become a local MP,” said the Council’s General Manager, Kerry Robinson.

“The city’s first Mayor, John Aquilina, was elected member for Blacktown in 1981 and remained in parliament until 2011, having moved to the seat of Riverstone in 1991.

“Jim Anderson, Mayor from 1991 to 1995, was elected to the seat of St Marys in 1995 and remained in parliament until 2003, having moved to the seat of Londonderry in 1999.

Blacktown City Council has been the proving ground for many political careers, Mr Robinson said.

“Most recently former councillor Edmond Atalla was elected to the state seat of Mount Druitt and former councillor Michelle Rowland was elected to the federal seat of Greenway,” he said.

“Under state legislation, councillors elected to the NSW parliament can remain councillors until the next council election, or two years – whichever is the shortest period.

“This means Mayor Bali is eligible to remain on the council until October 2019.”

Editors Notes (whyilovemountdruitt): On behalf of the community of Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs, I would like to congratulate the current Mayor and newly elected member of NSW  Seat of Blacktown, Mayor Stephen Bali. We understand you have passion for Blacktown City and for its people and have demonstrated what a great Mayor you have been in your current role. We wish you the best in your future in the NSW Parliament and hope that in your time in Parliament, you will  keep the Greater Western Sydney in  your heart for making decisions.