By Jeremy Cook
Incumbent Mayor Vic Pennisi will seek a second term at the helm of the Southern Downs Regional Council in March.
Mr Pennisi officially launched his campaign for mayor on Monday, becoming the second to publicly do so.
He joins lawyer and water rights advocate Melissa Hamilton as being the only two candidates to have publicly entered the mayoral race as of the time of print on 30 January.
“It’s been a privilege to serve the community of the Southern Downs as mayor for the past term and I seek their endorsement to continue as mayor for another term,” Mr Pennisi said.
“I feel very positive about the future for the residents of our community,” he said.
“My campaign will be without smear and I will focus on the positive, what we have done, what we can achieve, and how we can grow together.
“Great leaders don’t sell themselves on negatives, they sell themselves on results. I will leave the negative campaigns to others.”
Prior to his election to the role of mayor in 2020, Mr Pennisi had served as councillor on the Southern Downs Regional Council for 16 years.
“During this term as mayor I have led our community through droughts, fires and pandemics, and delivered real growth at the same time,” he said.
“We have achieved so much, but there is still more to do and I have the commitment and the energy to continue to contribute.”
It comes just a month and a half out from election day on 16 March where voters will cast their ballot to decide on who their local government representatives will be for the next four years.
