PENRITH Council has a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor after last week’s Mayoral elections.

Cr John Thain has been elected unopposed as Mayor with Cr Tricia Hitchen being elected unopposed as

Deputy Mayor.

New local government legislation put in force by the state government says the Mayor of Penrith City Council now has to serve a two year term, meaning newly elected Mayor John Thain will be in his position for two years.

During his acceptance speech, Cr Thain thanked the people of Penrith for voting him back into council, and he gave special mentions to the returning and new councillors for voting him into the position.

“I’d like to thank my councillor colleagues for their support, I am very humbled and excited to be Mayor,” Cr Thain said.

“I’d also like to thank the people of Penrith for electing me as your representative,” he said. “I promise to do my best to serve the city to the best of my abilities.”

This is the second time Cr Thain has served as Mayor with his previous stint in the job being 2005-2006.

Cr Hitchen echoed Cr Thain’s remarks and added she was expecting a ‘very steep learning curve’. The Deputy Mayor position, unlike the Mayor’s position, is for a single one year term.

Former Mayor, Cr Karen McKeown congratulated Cr Thain on his promotion, saying “It is now the second time that you have been elected unopposed.”

“I can’t think of any time in my 12 years of Council where any candidate has been elected unopposed,” Cr McKeown said.

Other matters before council this week included the divvying up of councillors to represent the many different organisations and committees run and represented to council.

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