Mosman Voters: Meet your 2024 Local Government election candidates.

By ANNA USHER

Mosman voters are heading to the polls on September 14 to choose seven councillors, including a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Here you will find helpful links on pre-polling, polling booth locations, and candidates in order of ballot draw, who will tell us why they want our votes.

Each candidate has been provided equal space (maximum 250 words) and identical questions, and no part of our election coverage is sponsored in any way.

Check your enrolment details and find out which LGA you are in here.

Where do I vote? We have included local voting locations from a previous story here.

Want to vote early in Mosman?

Postal votes must be submitted before 5pm on 9 September. Learn about how to do that here. You can also pre-poll vote from 7 September until 13 September (excluding Sunday). The locations of pre-polling booths are listed here.

Group A – Independent

Simon Menzies
Libby Moline
Katalin Kiss

Simon Menzies

Lead Candidate Spotlight: Simon Menzies

Mosman has been my home for over 40 years. I have raised my daughter in this community and have been actively involved in local schools and sports clubs, both as a parent and a child.

I’ve coached local rugby and hockey teams and enjoy playing lawn bowls in my spare time.

This year marks my 20th anniversary as a Mosman Councillor.

My candidacy is built on experience and independence. It is crucial for a new Mayor to have council experience.

With 20 years serving on Mosman Council, I have a deep understanding of our community’s needs and the nuances of council operations.

I believe a council of Independents best serves Mosman. This election includes five candidate groups: three political parties, (two major parties and a registered local political party) and two local Independents, including myself.

I prioritise people over politics and make merit-based decisions. I am committed to addressing local issues effectively, not engaging in party politics or being on council to raise a profile for running for state parliament.

My priorities are:

• Ensuring a smooth leadership transition and stability on council.
• Ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with community needs.
• Balancing development with environmental sustainability.
• Preserving open spaces, beaches, and bushland.

I will also continue my advocacy for allowing dogs on ferries.

I strongly support the current DA for new change facilities at Middle Head Oval. Rawson Oval will be next.

A vote for Simon Menzies is a vote for a safe, reliable, and independent future for Mosman.

Find out more about Simon Menzies HERE.

Group B – Independent

Roy Bendall
Jacqui Willoughby
Alessandro Marturano
Miranda Barclay
Kim Blackburne

Roy Bendall

Lead Candidate Spotlight: Roy Bendall

I am running as an Independent for Mayor of Mosman, leading the “Making Mosman Even Better” dream team with former Councillor Jacqui Willoughby, Alessandro Marturano, Miranda Barclay, and super senior tennis great Kim Blackburne.

Although I am nominally a member of the Liberal party, my team and I are staunchly independent and not answerable to any party machines.

I love the Mosman community and believe that we can make it even better by raising service levels and focusing on residents’ needs and our environment. I’m committed to leveraging everything we love about Mosman and taking it to the next level.

I have served on Mosman Council for 12 years, including five terms as Deputy Mayor. I have also served on the Mosman Audit Committee and Expenditure Review Committee. I am a Board Member of Taronga Zoo (for 10 years) and am a current Sydney North Planning Panel Member and Chairman of the Northern Metro RFS Bush Fire Management Committee.

We can make Mosman even better by addressing the following issues: service levels, traffic, excessive development, footpaths, pet-friendly services, vibrancy for our nighttime economy, and assistance for our rental residents while protecting and fostering our natural environment.

When the tide rises, all boats rise with it.

If elected, I propose a 24-hour Council concierge service, a rental advisory service, a vibrant nighttime economy, and a more pet-friendly attitude toward our furry friends.

We also need to expand our environmental efforts by encouraging more sea grasses so that turtles can live in more than one bay.

Find out more about Roy Bendall HERE.

Group C – The Greens

Colleen Godsell
Oliver Godsell
Ruth Marshall

Colleen Godsell

Lead Candidate Spotlight: Colleen Godsell

My name is Colleen Godsell. I am an educator, a business owner and a community leader.

A member of The Greens and an Australian citizen, I have lived in Mosman since 1986 and raised my family here.

I have fought to save historical sites, built an environment centre, restored scout halls and volunteered in Mosman for decades.

In 2000 I waged a five-year action to save the historic Barn Whaling Station from developers, raised the $1.2 million dollars to restore it and expand its heritage curtilage.

In 2018 I was awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia for significant service to youth through Scouting, and roles with educational, historical preservation, Indigenous tourism and social welfare groups.

I am a graduate of the AICD and have served on boards for more than 30 years.
I am a skilled negotiator and activist. A protégé of the late Jack Mundey AO. I know what it is to fight for the things that are precious to us and to never give in or give up.

My vision for Mosman is to focus attention on support and relief for residents in the cost-of-living crisis with additional services. To take an immediate position on the challenges we will face with housing targets versus sustainable development. To negotiate housing strategies that seek to support essential workers so we can attract and retain them.

Bring back low-cost occasional care and provide much needed free mental health services together with meaningful waste and climate change strategies.

Find out more about Colleen Godsell HERE.

Group D – Serving Mosman

Ann Marie Kimber
Carolyn Corrigan
Michael Randall
Pip Friedrich
Harley Van Der Pluijm

Ann Marie Kimber

Lead Candidate Spotlight: Ann Marie Kimber

I have been a resident of Mosman for 20 years and am running as both a Mayoral and Councillor candidate for Serving Mosman.

Serving Mosman is a registered, non-aligned, independent team. For the past 15 months, I have worked closely with Mayor Carolyn Corrigan and the team to prepare for this role. Saturday, 14 September provides voters the opportunity to give serious consideration to who will represent them for the next four years.

Representing the Mosman community is a great privilege and requires an authentic, forward-thinking leader who can build relationships with other elected representatives, council staff, and the community. With an MBA and a leadership background in business, healthcare, sport, and community service, I bring a diverse skill set, plus two essential qualities that our Carolyn saw in me: intelligence and character.

I’ve spent six months door-knocking to meet the community and hear from residents about their experiences, needs, and hopes for Mosman’s future.

If elected, I will continue to listen to the community and provide the strategic leadership required to prepare Mosman for the future, while understanding how much residents love and cherish this place.

I will continue the good work of Council to enhance our beautiful suburb. My priorities will be to preserve Mosman’s unique character and environment while keeping it dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable.

My independent team and I will focus on environmental protection, advocating for the community’s voice in housing reforms, improving recreational facilities, addressing traffic congestion, and prioritising climate action and transparent governance.

Find out more about Ann Marie HERE.

Group E – Labor

John Wakefield
Alyson Wills
Warren Yates

John Wakefield

Lead Candidate Spotlight: John Wakefield

I spent my formative years in the local area, attending North Sydney Boys and Mosman High. In my twenties I relocated to Bondi, where I eventually served as a Councillor and Mayor.

Twelve years ago, planning our children’s education, Mosman drew me back. Our three children are enrolled in local schools, enjoying all that Mosman has to offer.

Mosman is a great place to live but there are neglected issues. The most important is the Woolworths development on Military Road.

I was a convenor of the Mosman Village Community group which co-ordinated opposition to Woolworths.

Remember Woolworths wanted a full-scale supermarket not a Metro. I believe they have only put their big plan on the back-burner.

The new Council must protect Mosman Village. Woolworths can be no bigger and no other large supermarket can be developed.

I will initiate a review of the retail zoning and withdraw a Council plan to open Lennon Lane into Belmont Road as my first actions.

Mosman Collective readers will be familiar with the bird feeding issue on Spit Road. I will bring this long-neglected problem to a full Council meeting to resolve a way forward with sensitivity to all involved.

Climate change is facing us. I will establish a control group for all Council’s energy and climate initiatives to ensure they are practical and effective with full auditing to keep us on track and on budget.

I am running as a Labor Party member along with long-term residents Alyson Wills and former Mosman Councillor Warren Yates.

Find out more about John Wakefield HERE.