[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text][nectar_dropcap color=”#008397″]T [/nectar_dropcap]he fiercely Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie MP, will today announce that he is, for the first time, endorsing a candidate in the upcoming local government elections. Mr Wilkie will endorse and launch Kristie Johnston’s campaign to become Mayor of Glenorchy City Council.
WHAT: Andrew Wilkie launches Kristie Johnston’s Mayoral Campaign
WHEN: 1:00pm sharp Friday 1 August 2014
WHERE: Barossa Park Lodge, 17A Clydesdale Avenue, Glenorchy
Mr Wilkie has previously declined to endorse any candidate at any election but is today making an exception. Mr Wilkie said “Kristie is a first-class alderman, hard working and a champion for the community. She has the experience and skills to be an excellent mayor at a time when Glenorchy City Council is in need of new leadership and fresh ideas. I am especially impressed by Kristie’s genuine independence and focus on the public interest, rather than political and personal self-interest. Endorsing anyone is a very big deal for me and something I would only do very rarely, but I believe local government is sufficiently removed from federal and state politics to allow it, and because Kristie is such an exceptional candidate for mayor.”
Kristie Johnston, an Alderman at Glenorchy City Council, said that she was honoured to have such a well-respected member of the community publicly endorse her campaign to become Mayor of Glenorchy. Ald Johnston said “As a resident and Aldermen in this municipality I am deeply concerned with the direction that Glenorchy Council is heading in. Our ratepayers are suffering from unreasonable rate increases and are frustrated by Council inefficiencies and lack of genuine community engagement. Our Council has become characterised as lacking transparency, accountability and vision and this is simply not good enough”.
“It is time for new leadership and a new direction that will deliver this Council back to what the community wants and needs. I’m asking residents to join with me and clean up Glenorchy and clean out this Council!” said Ald Johnston.
Andrew Wilkie and Alderman Johnston will be available for further comment after the launch.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]