OUR SAY: Star power proves an advantage in Albury Council election

Way back in March 2020, the NSW government decided to delay local council elections, then planned in September, for 12 months.

But by mid-2021, another COVID crisis forced a second postponement.

Finally on Saturday, and through prepolling in many cases, residents of Albury, Greater Hume, Federation and Berrigan councils chose their municipal representatives for the next four years.

it would be interesting to know how many of the candidates would have put their hands up in late 2020; if another year of pandemic challenges influenced their decision to run.

Whether their current council's actions, or inaction, over the past year served as a motivator.

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Well-known names were dotted across the Albury ballot paper - councillors present and past and those already prominent in fields other than Border politics.

And two of the latter have proven among the biggest winners so far.

Radio host Kylie King looks set to top the poll while her running mate, Border entertainer and DJ Steve Bowen may well join her on the new council.

Name recognition has undoubtedly been an advantage for the team, not unlike the situation of Wodonga mayor and Ms King's on-air partner Kev Poulton last year.

(As an aside, there's some irony that a frequently locked down Victoria went ahead with council elections in 2020 and NSW did not).

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It's unrealistic to think someone without a public profile could attract enough votes but still, the celebrity factor has played its part in the Albury campaign.

And the early results do indicate some discontent toward sitting councillors, with only former mayor Alice Glachan safe in the top nine yesterday.

Again, would others have retained their places if the poll had been held when originally planned?

Possibly another fatiguing year of border closures, permits, restrictions and cancellations - even though many of these issues lie beyond a council's control - helped build a community feeling that it's time.

Time for a change.

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