Current City of Bunbury councillor Betty McCleary has announced her intentions to join the race for the position of Bunbury Mayor in the October local government elections.
Cr McCleary was elected to council in 2013 for a two-year term and then re-elected in 2015 to continue her duties for the City, and is now asking Bunbury voters for the chance to lead them at a critical time for Bunbury.
Cr McCleary told The Mail that Bunbury is at a crossroads, and that she will bring a ‘different perspective’ to the role to get the city “up and running” again.
“Bunbury is at a junction in its progress and to move forward and gain momentum, I’m the person for that role,” she said.
“I’m committed to this community and I want to further demonstrate my passion and I can best do that through such leadership.
“I bring a different dimension – I’m approachable and I have energy and an understanding of what the community requires and what their aspirations are.”
Cr McCleary said her prime concern as Mayor would be to ensure responsible governance and champion sustainable, innovative development.
“I want to focus on maximising the benefits that our wonderful city possesses before embarking on new initiatives,” she said.
“I’m fiscally responsible. I do not want to burden the rate payer with projects that may be absolutely wonderful, but are not sustainable.
“But, if we do take on anything new, before we start we need to increase community consultation and that is where I excel because of my contacts and constant work throughout the community for a lot of years now.”
Instead, she is encouraging Bunbury to fix the already existing amenities to improve the City.
“We need to look at asset renewal – we need to fix our parks and get the prickles out of the parks, have better public toilets and cycling paths,” Cr McCleary said.
“I want to fast track the ‘Welcome to Bunbury’ signs – we’ve got to get them happening, we’ve got to get ourselves on the map.”
With a wealth of knowledge under her belt and 18 years in civic life, Cr McCleary has chaired the City’s RoadWise and International Relations committees as well as the Audit and Youth Advisory committees and Art Acquisition, Community Grant Funding and South West Joint Development panels.
“I’ve been in family businesses, I’ve had a colourful career as a nurse and anaesthetic technician as well as a whole raft of other jobs, including gym instructor,” she said.
“I will bring balance to what Bunbury needs – I know the business community and the community organisations.
“I want to focus on the individuals who don’t want to be attached to either group, they have a voice and I want to hear it.”
But, Cr McCleary said, no matter what, it’s important that residents take the time to vote to bring change to Bunbury.
“This is when the individual is at their most powerful – their vote is most powerful,” she said.
“For change and for progress, they can make this happen through their vote.”
Mayor Gary Brennan and Deputy Mayor Brendan Kelly have already confirmed they will nominate for the top job, with a number of other candidates also expected to announce bids in the coming weeks.