CANDIDATES MOBILISE IN FREO MAYORAL RACE

WHEN did the race start for Fremantle’s next mayor?
No memo to ratepayers yet but it appears mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge and councillors Ben Lawver and Fedele Camarda, and possibly Kate Hulett, are considering running for mayor in October.
Donning a new hair style and increasingly public about her views on how the community should ‘celebrate’ WA’s bicentenary in 2029, Cr Fitzhardinge only yesterday said that at the end of her term, “I would like to be surrounded by fantastic people in Freo who have a positive vision for the future and want to become mayor.”
Reported by StreetWise at (https://www.streetwisemedia.com.au/quick-fire-mayoral-debate-and-minties-moments/), Cr Fitzhardinge said at the 2021 mayoral debate she was not interested in running for a state government seat: “I’m really really happy here in Freo. And actually I’ve kind of got a day job that I love too so I will be OK if I’m not your mayor.”
Of course, ‘politicians’ are allowed to change their minds, which is something StreetWise understands was discussed last week over coffee between Cr Fitzhardinge and Labor power broker Brian Smith. StreetWise also understands Cr Fitzhardinge will this week meet former campaign manager and councillor Tim Grey-Smith.
As Cr Fitzhardinge is in pre-election mode, her use of council resources moving forward will be of concern to ratepayers who raised the same criticisms when Brad Pettitt while mayor campaigned for his state seat in parliament.
Unsuccessful in both her state and federal run for Fremantle, Kate Hulett has not gone away nor has she confirmed any mayoral ambitions, with StreetWise today having contacted her campaign supporter Jesse Noakes.
Her latest Instagram post based on “passionate and heartfelt” messages left under comments she made when the ABC called Freo for Labor in March promised followers: “Today, as we watch the most powerful people in our country (and the world) let us down, and the balance of ‘everything’ feels shaky – and as humanity feels like it’s crumbling, I was reminded as I read those messages, that we must – WE MUST – preserve, build, prioritise and celebrate our community, as well as the next generation(s) of our communities. I think that connecting in an open, generous and kind way with everyone we can, whenever we can, will be the way through this mess. To this end; I’ve been out of town for a few weeks and I’d love to catch up when I get home.”
Cr Lawver told StreetWise: “I’m still actively considering.” He said he could not comment further except to say he had received a lot of community support and pressure to run for mayor.
Cr Camarda is reluctant to run against the mayor and told StreetWise today: “I am very unlikely to run, people always ask, but the planets would have to line up for me to run.”
Cr Lang? That was a rumour last year. In October, he is up with Cr Andrew Sullivan to fill coastal ward with Cr Jemima Williamson-Wong.
There also is no indication that Crs Lang or Sullivan will not run for coastal ward, or mayor. But only one can stay under the new ward rules. There can be only two elected members per ward so that council will after October be reduced to nine elected members including the mayor. Two will go.
Cr Jenny Archibald is reportedly not running, StreetWise told she would support Cr Camarda if he contested central ward. Cr Camarda’s decision to run for mayor or a seat in east or central wards will be influenced by whether Cr Lawver decides to run for mayor or his seat, but not both.
Former Fremantle south ward (coastal) councillor Marija Vujcic would not confirm whether she will run.