The new City of Casey council. From left, councillors Mick Morland, Edrington; Steve Beardon, Mayfield; Wayne Smith, River Gum; Paul Richardson, Four Oaks; Lorraine Wreford, Michael Farley, Springfield; Colin Butler Balla Balla, Janet Halsall, River Gum, Brian Hetherton, Edrington; Rob Wilson, Four Oaks, and mayor Kevin Bradford, Mayfield Ward.By Jim Mynard
NEWLY elected Casey mayor Kevin Bradford has warned councillors that they had a responsibility to prevent personal and political differences affecting council debates.
Cr Bradford said the council had vast experience and although councillors did not agree on some issues they should not allow these to cloud their judgment when making council decisions.
Cr Bradford was unanimously elected to the top civic position during the council’s statutory meeting on Monday evening.
He said he was extremely honoured to be the Casey mayor and it was a position that he did not take lightly.
“I believe it is a privilege to be elected to the council and a greater privilege to be mayor,” he said.
“I thank the residents who elected me.”
However, the mayor comes into his new job facing civil action being brought in the County Court by a woman claiming damages for personal injury from an incident during his work as a police officer.
Cr Bradford is no longer a member of the police force.
The matter is set for a hearing in April.
Cr Bradford said the matter was a civil proceeding and not a criminal case.
He said the action had no bearing on his role as a councillor.
“The issue has not been a major problem to Mayfield residents who re-elected me,” he said.
“I am confident the matter will not drag on past April and I am confident of a good result.”
Cr Bradford said he was paying for his own legal representation.
“I think the matter will be settled before April,” he said.
