Perth Voice Interactive

VETERAN councillor Barry McKenna is gearing up to challenge Sylvan Albert for Bayswater’s mayoral chains — assuming Cr Albert wins his ward.

A councillor for 24 years, deputy mayor under Terry Kenyon and a freeman of the city, Cr McKenna says “I’ll see if I have the numbers to run” once the dust settles from next month’s elections. “I am interested, but I need to see if I have the support first.”

In Bayswater the mayor is a councillor, chosen by councillors, every two years.

Cr McKenna, 53, says he’s not letting two heart attacks—the most recent in 2012—slow him down, and maintains he’s now in good health.

He concedes that if he wins, his career as a history teacher at Trinity College will be all but over.

“Being mayor is a full-time job, so it is something that I would have to give serious consideration to,” he says.

In 2013 the mayoral allowance was upped to $136,000, making it a viable full-time role.

Meanwhile, following the closing of nominations last week it’s been confirmed that Catherine Ehrhardt will challenge Cr Albert for south ward.

In north ward, eight-year incumbent Mike Anderton faces a battle against both Brent Fleeton and Jacquie Kelly.

Central ward sees incumbents Chris Cornish and Mike Sabatino up against Jonathan Jones, Hadi Assanteh and Sally Palmer, while in west ward incumbent Martin Toldo faces off against Paul Shanahan and Dan Bull.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK