Posted: 5:40 PM EDT October 17, 2020 | Updated October 18, 2020 at 12:40 a.m. EDT
Channel Seven star Basil Zempilas has been elected Mayor of the City of Perth
The former Weekend Sunrise host and sports presenter narrowly beat former ABC reporter Di Baine by securing 294% of the vote on Saturday night
Zempilas was late for most of the count, but enjoyed a last-minute push of support, edging out Di Baine who finished with 2,494% of the vote
This is the first time in two years that voters have elected council members after its suspension in March 2018
A government investigation was launched at the time and found that « greed, incompetence and mismanagement » were practiced by a number of advisers
« This is a great opportunity for everyone, and it’s a great opportunity for the city of Perth to have the fresh start it has been so desperately looking for, » he said
Channel Seven star Basil Zempilas (photo, with Sam Armytage) has been elected mayor of the city of Perth
Zempilas (pictured, with wife Amy) got 294% of the vote on Saturday night
‘Everything we do from now on is for the taxpayers and for the residents of the City of Perth This is what we are here for and this is what we are here to serve
‘We now have the leadership and elected council that the city of Perth has lacked for three years’
His election campaign ran into a problem after he wrote in a column in August that he would ‘forcefully kick’ homeless people out of the city center ‘if that was the right thing to do »
« I make no apologies for that, the homeless must be moved out of shopping malls in Hay and Murray Street and surrounding areas, » he wrote
‘By force, if that’s what it takes I’m sick of being told by people who don’t live and work in the city like me that it’s not so bad fact, it’s worse
‘The look, the smell, the language, the fighting – it’s disgusting A plague on our city’
Zempilas was forced to apologize after facing a widespread backlash to the comments, with critics accusing him of being ‘out of touch with the city’
« These comments were made with frustration over nine months ago after an incident with my wife and six-year-old daughter and a man exposing himself at 11 a.m. on a Sunday, » he said. he told Daily Mail Australia
“I have spent a good part of the last six months educating myself by talking with homeless people, trying to better understand their situation and speaking with service providers’
Zempilas’ election campaign ran into a problem after he wrote in a column in August that he would forcefully evict homeless people from the city center « if that was the right thing »
Zempilas is a well-known media personality in the city and will keep many of his current professional commitments while juggling the new role
He presents the sports segment on Seven News Perth, writes as a columnist for « West Australian » and directs commentary on the AFL and the Olympics on Channel Seven
He also co-hosts the 6PR Breakfast Show with Steve Mills, but will step down at the end of this year
Zempilas will be sworn in in his new role as mayor with the new councilors on Monday afternoon
This will be the first time in two years that the city will be ruled by a council voted by the inhabitants
The Council was suspended in March 2018 and taken over by the commissioners when a government investigation was launched
A number of advisers manipulated electoral processes, used their positions of power for personal interests and failed to properly declare conflicts of interest
« The culture of the city has been characterized by self-interest, complacency, lack of accountability, lack of transparency and a lack of effective leadership, » said Inquirer Tony Power
The TV and radio personality said in her victory speech: « Perth has given my family a wonderful opportunity, and it has given me a wonderful opportunity, and it’s the same opportunity as Perth can offer all its citizens «
M Zempilas pledged a ‘new start’ and based his campaign on improving homelessness, restoring funding for Indigenous outreach programs and providing free parking for on-duty police officers.
He told The West Australian he felt ‘great responsibility, a sense of purpose and obligation’ after the narrow victory
‘I know the Eight Councilors and certainly the Lord Mayor come with the best of intentions They want to do the right thing for all taxpayers, residents and visitors
‘It’s our job to set the tone and lead by example, but I’ve known for three months how optimistic people are about the future of the city of Perth and how fast we can be on track to where we want to take our big city ‘
Basil is a famous face in Western Australia, and as of March 2018 he was co-host of Weekend Sunrise, replacing Andrew O’Keefe
In September 2019, he stepped down as a regular Weekend Sunrise host, but continued to appear as a backup presenter
The TV star has been married to longtime partner Amy Graham since 2009, and the pair are getting married in Greece.They share two daughters and one son
M Zempilas (pictured, on election campaign) pledged a ‘fresh start’ and based his campaign on improving homelessness, restoring funding for Indigenous outreach programs and providing free parking for police officers in service
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Basil Zempilas, City of Perth, Lord Mayor, Di Bain
World News – UA – Channel Seven star Basil Zempilas is elected Mayor of Perth
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
