Mayoral candidate Jerry Clune ready to give greater Geraldton residents options for leadership

After two years in his role as deputy mayor, Jerry Clune is ready to take one step up and give voters an alternative for leadership on their mayoral ballot paper. The City of Greater Geraldton local election has presented a colourful assortment of mayoral candidates, but the current deputy is the only challenger with proven experience in the role, and considers himself a safe bet. The other contenders vying to unseat incumbent Shane Van Styn at the October 21 postal election are anti-vaccine mandate protester Aaron Horsman and Mr Van Styn’s ex-fiancee and FIFO worker Tammy Croasdale. Cr Clune has lived in the Mid West his entire life and currently farms in Bringo with his wife Lynda, adding local government into his skill set when he was successfully elected to council in 2011. Holding the role of club president for Towns Football Club for six years, Cr Clune is no stranger to community leadership. Cr Clune does not want to talk about himself, saying his nomination for mayor is about pushing for the betterment of the city for all residents, by listening to their needs. He draws on a quote from former minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt: “Listen to the quite voices,” Cr Clune said: “I thought it was such a profound statement, you’ve got to keep an ear out for the quiet ones.” The mayoral hopeful said his main priority for the city was housing. “We need to be lobbying as much as we can. It would be negligent if we didn’t,” he said, while acknowledging the struggles builders are experiencing with costing and supply. “You need to think long term in local government, there will always be immediate issues you need to solve — but what do you need to do now to set the city up for the future.” Cr Clune references the future children and grandchildren of Geraldton, and making sure there are enough schools for them with the forecasted population growth. Cr Clune is proud of the council he has sat on for 12 years, and said they have worked their way through unprecedented challenges the best they could. He is confident in himself to take on the top job and in the support he has from council. “I think they like me,” Cr Clune says with a chuckle. “I wouldn’t have been elected deputy if they didn’t like me.” Cr Clune said council operated well and were providing effective representation of the city, not always agreeing but working together to find solutions. “Well, it is a good thing, because you don’t want sliced white bread. You need multi-grain.” he said. Reflecting on his involvement with local government, Cr Clune said there was always something to look inward about and improve on. “How I communicate with people probably probably need to improve a bit,” he said. Cr Clune finishes by saying: “I’m confident I can do the job. I’ve not always been like that. But I’ve been in the role long enough. I’m familiar with what’s required. I can talk to anybody, I’m quite happy to”. Should he fall short in his reach for mayor, Cr Clune will still be involved in local government with his term as councillor not expiring until October 2025.