End of the line for Catherine Redding as new Narrabri Mayor elected

Former mayor Catherine Redding did not recontest the position at a council meeting on Tuesday.

Instead business owner Cr Ron Campbell was elected unanimously to serve the balance of the mayor's term, before elections next year.

Cr Redding, a long-serving Narrabri councilor, was elected Narrabri mayor in 2016.

She was re-elected for a second two-year term in 2018.

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Cr Cameron Staines will remain Deputy Mayor after he was re-elected unopposed.

Councillors Lloyd Finlay and Ron Campey both told the Leader the new mayor would bring fresh energy to the town's local government.

Cr Campey said he hoped Cr Campbell would renew the council's efforts to lobby state and Commonwealth governments on behalf of the community.

He said the new mayor would bring "new blood, new direction, new lines of thought, new communication skills and new presence in the community".

"These days I call the community even state government and Federal government because we're not just a council, we're beholden to the state government mainly for funding and stuff like that. And I think the new presentation there will greatly help our shire," he said.

Cr Campbell is a successful businessman and owns Namoi Waste Corp, Cr Finlay said.

"He's a likeable bloke. Knows how to run a successful business and wants to really contribute. And has the time to contribute."

Cr Campbell thanked the former mayor for her term. Cr Redding also thanked staff for their assistance during her term at the top.

The Leader approached both Cr Redding and Cr Campbell for comment, but they did not call back before deadline.

The new council leadership team will serve until after local government elections, which were postponed by COVID-19 until September 2021.

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