VIC
Fostering opportunities for growing communities, uniting communities and focusing on the cost of living crisis were key themes in the acceptance speech of Hume City’s new Mayor.
Councillor Naim Kurt of the Meadow Valley Ward was recently elected to the top job, while Councillor Karen Sherry of the Meadow Valley Ward will remain as Deputy Mayor for a second year.
Mayor Kurt’s appointment follows a stint as Deputy Mayor for Hume City across the 2018/2019 term.
“Enhancing livability for all Hume residents will be a key objective of mine as Mayor, and I want to make sure everyone feels welcome and proud of the unique part of where they live,” said the new Mayor.
“Being Mayor is not something that happens on its own. I want to thank my councillor colleagues for their support, and I look forward to sharing this responsibility with them over the next 12 months.
“Throughout my term, I plan to lead our Council with good governance, with local people at the forefront of every decision made, and ensuring those most in need are not left behind.”
Following his election, Mayor Kurt also discussed his family’s deep roots in Hume City over almost 50 years and how their experience as Bulgarian Turks facing political persecution had fuelled his interest in politics and improving the local community.
He says it will also underpin the objectives of his Mayoral term, declaring that enhancing community pride, liveability and making all feel welcome will be key objectives over the next 12 months, by avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach to communities in Hume.
The terms for both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor will be capped at 12 months, concluding in October next year in readiness for the 2024 Council election.
