Ex-mayor’s Day in Court

The new council is settling into the chamber and learning the ropes. Only three of the nine are experienced, and there is much to learn. People fond of council gossip ask what will happen if Cr Michael Lyon, who faces an impending court decision in March of next year, is found guilty. In August, he was charged with common assault and stalking. Later in October, he was again charged with breaching the AVO.

There is no legal obligation for him to resign. He still maintains he is innocent of the charges. If he does resign, the procedure is for there to be a Countback Election. This is where the resigning councillor is removed from the vote count, and the computer button calculating preferential voting is pressed once again. The vote is recounted as if that candidate was not in the race. The most likely replacements will be Max Foggon, who was second on Michael Lyon’s Independent Team. Ironically, he will become the youngest member in the chamber, as he is younger than Elia Hauge. Or, the irony of ironies could be Mark Swivel, number three on the labour team. Once mates with Cr Lyon, but now there is no love lost between the two.