Todd Carney will continue to serve as Mayor of Penrith, while Ross Fowler has been elected Deputy Mayor.
The new Council met for the first time last night, endorsing Carney and Fowler to lead the city for the next two years.
It is a major show of solidarity between the two major parties, with the Liberal Party only having two Councillors on Council.
Fowler’s election as Deputy Mayor is an indication the new Council plans to continue a Penrith-first approach that defies party politics. Labor would have had the numbers to get both a Mayor and Deputy Mayor across the line.
“I’m honoured and excited to continue to serve as Mayor, especially at this transformative period for Penrith,” Carney said.
Carney was first elected to Council in 2016. He was previously the national service manager for a global crane manufacturer.
Carney started an apprenticeship at the age of 16 and worked as a heavy vehicle mechanic for 12 years. He was also an electorate officer in the Office of David Bradbury MP for six years.
Fowler is serving his eighth consecutive term on Council after being first elected in 1991. He served as Mayor in 1995–1996, 2013, 2014 and 2018–2020, and Deputy Mayor in 2015.
“We will be working collaboratively to ensure that Council works together for the benefit of everyone in Penrith,” Fowler said.
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