New Broome Shire Council sworn in
Published on 25 October 2023
L to R: Cr Peter Taylor, Cr Phillip Matsumoto, Cr Jan Lewis, Deputy Shire President Desiree Male, Shire President Chris Mitchell, Cr Melanie Virgo, Cr Ellen Smith and Cr Johani Mamid.
A new Shire of Broome Council has been sworn in two days after the results of the 2023 Local Government Election were formerly declared.
The Council includes four new faces; Jan Lewis, Johani Mamid, Ellen Smith and Melanie Virgo, who join Councillors Desiree Male, Phillip Matsumoto, Peter Taylor, and Chris Mitchell who won the popular vote to be Shire President at the weekend.
All were sworn in at a brief ceremony, where they read aloud and signed the Declaration required under the Local Government Act 1995, witnessed by Honorary Freeman, Kim Male JP.
A Special Meeting of Council was held after the swearing-in to elect a Deputy President, with Cr Male again taking on the role she held for six years before serving as Shire President for six months from April 2023.
Cr Male secured six of the eight Councillor votes, with the ramaining two going to Cr Smith, who was the only other nominee.
The new council is next scheduled to meet at the November Ordinary Meeting of Council on the 16th.
The ninth council seat formerly occupied by former Shire President Harold Tracey remains vacant and would need to be filled through a separate election.
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