SERVING Derwent Valley Councillor Phillip Bingley has announced his candidacy for re-election while also indicating he will contest the position of deputy mayor in the upcoming local government elections.
Cr Bingley said he brought an “unmatched 43 years of combined local government experience” to the table, having served as council officer and manager for 39 years before commencing his first four-year term as an elected member of the Derwent Valley Council.
He believes this “deep insider” knowledge removes any learning curve required to manage council budgets and complex local legislation.
“The Derwent Valley faces critical challenges with road maintenance, infrastructure and financial sustainability,” Cr Bingley said. “Our community deserves leaders who know how the system works from day one. By offering myself as a full-time deputy mayor with no competing professional distractions, I am making myself available 24/7 to the residents and businesses of this valley.”
Cr Bingley said he campaign would focus on ensuring ratepayer funds were funnelled directly into core services- including safer local roads, cleaner public spaces and waste management improvements, while strongly supporting the elected mayor to ensure stable council leadership.
- The News invites all prospective candidates to let us know of their intentions. All candidates will be offered equal space for a statement in the print edition and online. All are also invited to submit media releases for publication and we invite Letters to the Editor from candidates and readers alike. For publication during the election period, all letter writers must be fully identified to the editor for verification and published letters will include the name and locality of the writer.
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2 Responses
When does the election period commence please?
When I’m talking about “core services,” I’m really talking about the basics that make a town feel looked after. It is the simple stuff that ratepayers notice every day. Paying & caring for staff while they are working well together. Roads that do not feel risky to drive on. Footpaths that do not trip you up, parks & public spaces that are cared for. Bins that get emptied properly. Folks want to know their rates are going straight into those essentials, not getting lost in side projects. The basics get done without fuss. It is not fancy, but it matters. For me that is the bread‑and‑butter of local government. Good roads, clean spaces, reliable waste services & a place were people want to go to work. That is what keeps a community feeling safe, tidy & respected.