First-time councillor and Greens party member Carol Sparks defeated former mayor Colin Price for the deputy’s job.

The coup was carried out by the councillors who backed Sparks for the deputy’s job because they were concerned the political duopoly of Mayor Steve Toms and Cr Colin Price would dominate decision making.

New Deputy mayor Carol Sparks said she answered the call from the other councillors to run for the leadership role.

“After a lot of phone calls from them expressing dissatisfaction with the council that it looked like it was going to become I decided after being asked, to nominate for the deputy mayor role,” she said.

Councillor Andrew Parsons said he changed his mind at the last minute from backing Cr Price for deputy mayor to putting his vote behind Cr Sparks.

“I just felt that Glen Innes could not afford another term with Cr Price in a leadership position, so I shifted my vote to Cr Sparks,” he said.

New councillor Glenn Frendon said he voted for Cr Sparks because he thought she deserved to “have a go”.

“What I have been saying all the way through my campaign was that Glen Innes needed a new council, so we had to get somebody new like Carol into a leadership position to learn the ropes,” he said.

Former deputy mayor Dianne Newman said she voted for Cr Sparks to fall into line with community expectations for new blood in leadership positions.

“I personally think Cr Price did a great job as mayor and he is due a little bit more respect than the other councillors are paying him, but I just felt that the public sentiment was for new leadership and Cr Sparks put her hand up so I voted for change,” she said.

See page 3 for Cr Colin Price’s reaction

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