Mayor bows out of top job

After more than six years in the top job, City of Busselton Mayor Ian Stubbs will put away his mayoral regalia for the final time, confirming he will not seek re- election.

The long-standing leader told the Times he would announce his decision at today's annual Mayoral Prayer Breakfast, after the opening of nominations for the council elections yesterday.

The decision by Cr Stubbs, who joined the council at a time when former Vasse MLA Troy Buswell labelled it dysfunctional, comes after eight years on the council and six in the position of Shire president, now City mayor.

Of his greatest personal achievements in that time, Cr Stubbs said he was pleased to have driven changes to the City's governance, which he said resulted in councillors having a greater say.

"Before I ran, I believed council was going off the rails and I started writing a few letters to the editor," he said.

"And then I thought it's no good standing back and throwing stones. I needed to get in and see if I could bring about some change for the better.

"It was terrible. Our rates were going up by enormous percentages, 12 per cent and 8 per cent, but we weren't seeing anything for that money.

"It was simply being spent on consultants and staff and the ratepayers weren't getting value for money."

While he said he had been involved in many projects which he would love to have stayed with until completion, Cr Stubbs said there came a time when people "just needed to move on".

He added he had no unhappiness or regrets about his decision and said it was only fair he let the community and his colleagues know his intentions.

"It's time for change and I'd like for someone else to have a go," he said.

Before joining council at the City of Busselton, Cr Stubbs held many senior management positions at the shires of Dandaragan, Kununurra and Toodyay, and also spent six years as chief executive at the Shire of Busselton.

Asked about the notion he ruled the council with an "iron fist", Cr Stubbs said he believed a lifetime in local government had helped him with his role.

Cr Stubbs said while you needed to be tough in the job, you didn't have to dictate.

With nominations for the council set to close on Thursday next week, Cr Stubbs said he sincerely hoped councillors John McCallum, Coralie Tarbotton and Jenny Green were re-elected.

"They are strategic thinkers, they have been hard-working, dedicated councillors and (they) deserve another term," he said.

Cr Stubbs said in fairness he did not want to discuss other candidates or who he believed would be well placed to take over his position.

But he did make special mention of Grant Henley, who he said had been a very supportive deputy mayor throughout his time on the council.