COUNCILLORS are remaining tight-lipped in the wake of last week’s public dispute between the mayor and deputy mayor of Wakool Shire Council.
Former deputy mayor Anthony Jackson resigned at Wakool Shire Council’s August meeting last Wednesday, announcing he would contest next month’s mayoral election.
Cr Jackson voiced concerns over the manner in which Mayor Neil Gorey was conducting himself in the role, alleging he had been abusing his power — allegations Cr Gorey has strongly refuted.
When contacted by The Guardian last week Cr Jackson spoke of a particular comment allegedly made by the mayor last year, suggesting his interests were secured through the backing of all three of his female councillors, conferring on him an advantage in a six-member council.
When The Guardian pressed Cr Jackson to indicate which issues he was referring to, he refused to specify any.
“We didn’t agree on a certain issue and I was told that it didn’t matter what I thought on the issue because he ‘had the girls’ [on side], and I just took that as a throwaway line,” Cr Jackson said.
“I didn’t think that that would be the case, [I thought] that they would be prepared to make up their own minds on things.
“But things are getting harder and harder and I’m just not sure that they are as independent as they should be and that’s their decision to make.”
Cr Gorey has since denied having ever made the comment pertaining to the alleged conflict of interest and said he had sent Cr Jackson a letter outlining legal concerns over the allegedly defamatory comments.
The female councillors were contacted by The Guardian and either declined to comment or did not return calls. Councillor Colin Membrey also failed to return calls.
