Parra News January 20 2024

LOCAL NEWS
Davis quits Council gig
Former Lord Mayor Donna Davis is stepping away from Council to focus on MP role
ELLIE BUSBY
After seven years on
the City of Parramatta
Council, serving as
both a Councillor and Lord
Mayor, Donna Davis has
announced her resignation.
The State Member of
Parramatta shared the news
last week, confirming her exit
from the local Council to focus
more on her commitments as
MP.
She thanked those who
supported her in her time on
Council.
“I’m proud to have helped
shape the City of Parramatta
through a period of tremendous
change and growth, as
both a Councillor and Lord
Mayor,” she said.
“However, with a growing
number of commitments and
responsibilities as the Member
for Parramatta, I have decided
to tender my resignation as a
Councillor.
The announcement comes
after she stepped down from
her Lord Mayor position last
year, following concerns from
others in the Chamber that
she could not balance her fulltime
Council position with
that of her new MP duties.
Sameer Pandey replaced
Davis as Lord Mayor in May,
with current Lord Mayor
Pierre Esber then taking on the
role in September.
Promising exciting times
ahead for Parramatta, the
former Epping Ward Councillor
said she looks forward to
working closely with Council
to keep delivering for the local
community and the shared
vision for a global city.
“As Epping Ward Councillor
I’m particularly proud of the
projects and programs we’ve
put in motion for Epping
Ward including the muchawaited
upgrade of Epping
pool, Oxford Street upgrade,
Somerville Park Improvement
and construction of the West
Epping Dog Off Leash Park
and know these will keep
moving full speed ahead,” she
added.
Parramatta Council
currently maintains a Labor
majority in the Chamber with
six Councillors. Our Local
Community has four seats,
three are Independents and
one Green.
A City of Parramatta spokesperson
said Davis advised
Council of her resignation
effective January 23, 2024.
“Cr Davis has represented
the Epping Ward since
September 2017. In January
2022, she became only the
third female Lord Mayor in the
City’s 160-year history,” the
spokesperson added.
“Cr Davis stepped down as
Lord Mayor in May last year
following her election as State
Member for Parramatta.”
Davis’ exit from Parramatta
Council comes less than eight
months before the next NSW
Local Government elections.
She said she supports
Council not filling the vacant
Councillor position before the
election takes place.
What do you think of Davis’
resignation from City of
Parramatta Council? Let us
know at news@parranews.
com.au.
Donna Davis has stepped down from her role as Councillor on the City of Parramatta
Council.
PN52870
Tuesday, January 30, 2024 « parra news 7