A new face will join the campaign of an Independents bloc on Lake Macquarie City Council hoping to maintain their seat in each ward in the upcoming local government election.
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The Lake Mac Independents team has confirmed NSW government solicitor Katie Warner will replace John Gilbert as the lead candidate in East Ward in the December 4 election. Cr Gilbert has decided not to run due to work commitments.
First term West Ward councillor and former deputy mayor Luke Cubis will vie for the mayoral position, while also contesting his own ward, and North Ward councillor Colin Grigg will be seeking to obtain his seat for a second term.
"I'm really looking forward to running," Cr Cubis said.
"It would be a great honour to serve the residents of Lake Macquarie in this way."
Cr Cubis said Ms Warner was involved in in a number of "high-level" volunteer positions in the community.
"It is excellent to have somebody of Katie's calibre joining our line-up of independents," he said.
"She would make a wonderful councillor for our city."
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The Lake Mac Independents ran for the first time at the 2016 election as a bloc.
Cr Cubis, Cr Grigg and Cr Gilbert all also ran for mayor under the Lake Mac Independents banner.
Cr Gilbert had initially planned to recontest his East Ward position this year, but since the election was delayed, he has taken on additional responsibilities in his full-time employment.
"The situation for me - time is the issue," he said. "I manage a large village on the Central Coast and they've asked me to take on two more offshoots of business - marketing of homes and a large capital works program which is going to start in December.
"As it is I'm pressed for time with council stuff. You've got to give it a fair bit of time to do it properly.
"It's disappointing because I've thoroughly enjoyed my time on council."
However Cr Gilbert did not rule out another tilt at local government in the future.
"It's only a short term - two years and nine months," he said.
"I'll see how I go with the projects in that time."
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Sage Swinton
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
