Long-time Mandurah councillor Caroline Knight set to step into mayoral role pending WAEC approval

A long-time councillor and environmental advocate looks set to become Mandurah’s next mayor after the resignation of current mayor Rhys Williams in October.

After seven years in the job, Mr Williams announced his bid to run for the seat of Mandurah after the shock resignation of David Templeman.

On Monday, the City of Mandurah’s council unanimously approved deputy mayor Caroline Knight stepping into the top job, pending approval from the WA Electoral Commission.

Councillors also approved an increase to Ms Knight’s training budget to a maximum of $8000 and a clothing allowance of $1000 for the 2024-25 financial year, which aligns with that provided to Mr Williams.

It was also revealed at the meeting that Mr Williams’ resignation would be effective from January 27, making Australia Day celebrations his last official duty.

Cr Knight became a councillor in 2011 and was appointed by her fellow councillors as deputy mayor in 2019.

She is a former medical scientist and a commission member of the WA Planning Commission.

Cr Knight played a role in blocking the approval of the Point Grey channel proposal in a bid to protect Mandurah’s estuary.

The council is now waiting for approval from the WA Electoral Commission for Mr William’s position to remain vacant until the next mayoral election in October 2025.

If the commission does not approve the vacancy, the city will have to hold an extraordinary election which could cost about $240,000.

However, the city found it unlikely that WAEC could conduct an extraordinary election until after May 29, 2025, due to capacity constraints associated with the WA State Government election.

This would mean the winner of an extraordinary election would be in the role for less than five months, as the October election would still need to be held.

Mr Williams could have remained in the role while campaigning for the seat of Mandurah, like City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas.

As a result of Mr Zempilas choosing not to step down, the City of Perth had to empower a third councillor recently to perform the functions of mayor in case the Lord Mayor and deputy mayor were “unavailable, unable, or unwilling” to perform their duties.

Mr Zempilas’ decision has been derided by many, including Premier Roger Cook who urged him to step down last week, calling the situation a “shemozzle”.

When Mr Williams announced he was running for the seat of Mandurah last month, the Premier rejected claims it was a double standard after he had criticised Mr Zempilas.

Mr Cook said Mr Zempilas had “abandoned his constituents” and politicised local government.

“It stands in sharp contrast to Rhys Williams, who in the back end of his second term as mayor has now provided an opportunity to immediately transition out of that role ... and is already making preparations to leave,” he said.

The seat of Mandurah looks set to be an easy run for Mr Williams after Liberal candidate James Hall stood down after shocking Facebook posts he had shared came to light.

Mr Hall shared posts indicating he was “proud to be white” and claimed migrants who “hate our culture” were bleeding “our welfare system”.

The Liberal Party is yet to field a replacement for Mr Hall.