After a tumultuous week, the Liberal Party wants Penrith to know they still have candidates running in the upcoming September election.
Last week, 140 Liberal candidates were not registered for the Local Government Election and in this major party bungle a host of Penrith candidates have had their political dreams taken from them.
This includes current Deputy Mayor and former Mayor Mark Davies, who has been a fixture on Council since 2004, former Independent turned Liberal Marlene Shipley, long time Penrith City Councillor Bernard Bratusa and first time Councillor Mark Rusev.
As the news broke last week, Davies spoke to the Weekender and shared his disappointment that his long political career had come to an abrupt end.
“I’m just totally dumbstruck, I just can’t believe that after 20 years and current Deputy Mayor that I’ve been taken out by an administrative problem,” he said.
“Totally unexpected, it’s something that’s totally from left field. Very disappointed and sad and there’s a bit of anger there but look in life sometimes these things come from left field and you move on.
“I just think what’s probably a shame is that we are going through one of the most important periods in Penrith’s history in terms of the airport and infrastructure and things that are needed within the community and I think we are now left with a not as strong Council as what it could have been and it is a really important time to have a strong Council.”
Davies was to lead the South Ward ticket, with Rusev as his second.
Shipley was to lead the East Ward ticket with Bratusa as her second.
The NSW Electoral Commission this week denied the Liberals an extension to file nominations that were missed.
Despite this unprecedented error, there will be Liberal candidates running in the North Ward: veteran Councillor Ross Fowler and his second, newcomer Reece Nuttall in a ticket rounded out by Dennis Golding, Enid Golding and Julie Fletcher.
Fowler has long been an advocate for financial stability and says this is something he will continue into the future.
“Penrith has succeeded because it has been financially responsible over a number of years and that means that the limited resources that Council has need to be spent wisely and effectively,” Fowler said.
“I’ll be looking to have that continue into the next term so that we develop a four-year strategic plan… that will deliver those things and keep Penrith City Council financially stable.”
Nuttall will become one of the youngest Councillors if elected. He wants to send a clear message about how the Liberal Party plans to operate when elected to Council.
“There is three things that I want to run on and focus on and those three things are: Penrith deserves a well-run Council that respects ratepayers’ money; Penrith deserves high quality community facilities and parks; and this is a big one for me, Penrith deserves a vibrant Penrith where young people can go out, have fun and feel safe,” he said.
As an unlikely duo Fowler and Nuttall are both dedicated to serving their community.
“It’s sort of interesting, Ross and I are two ends of the spectrum, we have a mixture of experience and energy,” Nuttall said.
“Ross is very experienced, he’s been on Council for a very long time and I’m very passionate, energetic and enthusiastic about our community.”
The election is on September 14.
Emily Chate
Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024, and covers local news - primarily courts and politics. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist.