Gerald Lynch
After seven years as a councillor, Naim Kurt was elected mayor by his Hume Council colleagues on Wednesday, November 1.
Councillor Kurt was elected to council in 2016, and served a term as deputy mayor in 2018-19.
Councillor Karen Sherry will remain as deputy mayor for a second straight year.
The new mayor wasted no time celebrating his appointment, outlining plans for the year ahead.
Cr Kurt said he understands the diverse nature of Hume, and that a one size fits all approach is not suitable for the area.
“I’ll work with council to ensure we provide the right support for our communities that suit their history, context, and needs,” he said.
“I plan to lead our council with good governance, with local people at the forefront of every decision made.”
As previously reported by Star Weekly, Cr Kurt stood down from his role as a councillor in 2020 for two months due to inappropriate comments about work and council issues.
Cr Kurt expressed his gratitude to the community and council for affording him a second chance, and said he is looking forward to proving himself.
“There isn’t a person here who hasn’t made a mistake, and this council has never been one to let that hold someone back from stepping up and leading,” he said.
“Things have happened in the past that I’m not proud of. I was sorry. It affected my colleagues here, and I apologised.
“I have tried to put my best foot forward everyday, and repair those relationships on a personal and professional level.”
A number of councillors stood to congratulate Cr Kurt on his appointment, including Cr Carly Moore, who said she was excited to see him step up into the role.
“As a councillor I know you work hard, you understand the role council plays in the community and you are accessible and very responsive,” she said.
Deputy mayor Cr Sherry said she looked forward to working with the new mayor, and thanked her colleagues for the opportunity to help lead in the final year of the council term.
“I’m excited to be part of the fantastic work we will do this year,” she said.
“I’m particularly looking forward to more urban planning, and stamping Broadmeadows as a Metropolitan Activity Centre, preventing it from lagging behind other bustling activity centres in Melbourne.”
