Breaking News
Manly mayor calls it quits
Chelsea White
19 February 2008
AFTER almost four years at the top, Manly Mayor Peter Macdonald is throwing his mayoral chains back in the ring.
Yesterday Cr Macdonald revealed he would not contest the mayor's position in the local government elections in September but would continue on as councillor.
``I made this decision a few weeks ago,'' Cr Macdonald said. ``It wasn't an easy decision to make.''
Cr Macdonald returned from his work as a volunteer doctor in Papua New Guinea last weekend and he says it is PNG and remote Australia that needs more of his time now.
The local politician, who was also the Independent State Member for Manly for eight years, said he would be able to balance his commitments in the future if he left his position as mayor.
``My main love has always been medicine but for the last 20 years I have mixed this with politics. Increasing demands in PNG mean I need more time,'' he said.
Cr Macdonald admitted his stepping down will mean he will have less power to deal with issues such as late-night trading in Manly but said he is still committed to making a difference in the area.
As the jostling begins in Manly, the race for seats in Warringah is also hotting up.
Emerging as a front runner for the top Warringah spot is former mayor Sam Danieli whose son was critically injured in a stabbing on Manly Beach earlier this year.
Current Manly councillor Pat Daley has confirmed he will run for Warringah this year but has said he will not be making a move for the mayoral position.
Also believed to be considering their options is new candidate Peter Clouston along with old faces from the sacked council including former deputy mayor David Stephens, Darren Jones, Kevin Smith and former mayor Peter Moxham.
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