Dear Editor,
With so many important and controversial issues to be addressed by Council in the next few months, it was disappointing to read Cr Rob Priestly has chosen to prematurely step aside from Council duties.
Given that he is not officially a candidate, in an as yet uncalled Federal Election, I fail to understand why he has taken this action and left important Council business in the hands of others. Without his presence Council is left with eight members, meaning it can be difficult to obtain a majority on any contentious issue.
In short Council business has been set to one side whilst Mr Priestly pursues his Federal electoral ambitions, when he could in fact have remained as a serving Councillor until the federal election is called and he officially nominates. The election is potentially four months away.
It is particularly concerning that issues such as the proposed social housing project in Nixon Street, (which Mr Priestly opposed), can now go to a vote without a full complement of Councillors to debate it and it stands as a very real possibility of becoming a reality.
Like any other citizen Mr Priestly is entitled to run for a Parliamentary position. The point is that he is not yet formally a candidate and the election has not been called, in spite of that, he has walked away from important debates, the outcome of which could affect the long-term future of Shepparton and this decision calls into question both his judgement and his commitment to this community.
Shelley Sutton
Shepparton
