Julie Sutton (mayor)

Emeritus Mayor
Julie Sutton
JP
38th Mayor of Warringah
In office
19 September 1995  24 September 1996
Deputy Sam Danieli
Preceded by Brian Green
Succeeded by Sam Danieli
In office
26 September 2002  23 July 2003
Deputy David Stephens
Preceded by Darren Jones
Succeeded by Dick Persson (Administrator)
Councillor on Warringah Council
In office
20 September 1980  4 December 1985
Constituency D Riding
In office
14 March 1987  23 July 2003
Constituency D Riding/C Ward
In office
13 September 2008  8 September 2012
Succeeded by Jose Menano-Pires
Constituency C Ward
Personal details
Born 1937 (age 79/80)
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Political party Australian Labor Party (to 1985)
Independent (1985–2012)
Residence Frenchs Forest, New South Wales
Alma mater Newcastle University
University of New England
Macquarie University
Occupation Teacher and Marriage Celebrant

Julie Sutton JP (born. 1937) is a former New South Wales politician and Marriage Celebrant, elected as a Councillor of Warringah Council and was previously Mayor of Warringah from 1995–1996 and 2002-2003.

Early life

Sutton was born in Australia in 1937, growing up in Newcastle on the New South Wales Central Coast. Sutton was educated at Newcastle Girls' High School and the Universities of Newcastle, New England and Macquarie completing a Master of Arts with Honours (MA Hons.) and a Diploma of Education (DipEd), becoming a teacher. She taught French, German and English at Raymond Terrace High School and Newcastle Girls’.[1] Moving to Sydney in 1965, Sutton became a Teacher of English and Modern Languages at The Forest High School, Davidson High School and Killarney Heights High School from 1965-1986. She married, which was later dissolved, and had 3 sons.[2]

Council

In 1980 Sutton stood for election as a Labor Party candidate in D Riding of Warringah Shire Council and on 20 September 1980 became only the fourth female councillor elected to Warringah. She served on the council until it was dismissed in December 1985 by the Wran Government following supposed discrepancies in council planning decisions. However, following a successful legal challenge against the government by the NSW Fraud Ombudsman, it was subsequently found that there was no evidence of corruption to support the dismissal, and that "the elected councillors were denied natural justice and were both unfairly and unlawfully dismissed". Sutton was one of the few councillors that supported the dismissal however, but nevertheless noted in her first council meeting back after the dismissal: "Even though I went against you in the election, I will certainly support you. [Joking] There is certainly a balance of brains and talent with one woman and 11 men ... In this case the men won - not the better men, but the men".[3] When the council was returned on 14 March 1987 after the local elections, Sutton remained as a councillor but in September 1987 was elected as Deputy Shire President alongside Shire President Ted Jackson.[4]

She became involved in Council Committees, supporting the Forest Community Association, whose work resulted in the establishment in 1985 of the Forest Community Centre/Glen Street Theatre, now one of Sydney’s leading artistic venues, and the creation of Garigal National Park, the result of very long negotiations with Dainford Ltd, the then State Government and Warringah Council and Narrabeen Lagoon Committee. Dainford agreed to transfer 800 hectares of privately owned land into public ownership in exchange for approval to build the Austlink Corporate Park thus creating Garigal National Park in 1991.[2] Sutton was elected as Deputy Shire President for a further three terms: 1989-1990, 1991–1992 and 1992-1993.[5]

She could not, however, match this success at the state level and failed to gain election as the ALP candidate to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Davidson against Terry Metherell in 1981 and 1984.[1] In 1985 Sutton was expelled from the ALP for voting for a colleague to be Shire President against instructions from Labor caucus.[6][7] She stood again as an Independent against Metherell in Davidson at the 1988 election but was again unsuccessful.[8] Sutton stood again as an independent at the 1992 by-election, taking place during the midst of a public scandal over the manner of Metherell's departure, with the government's tenuous position in the hands of the voters at the by-election. Premier Nick Greiner himself, who later resigned over the 'Metherell Affair', attempted to label Sutton a "Labor stooge" and a "Terry Metherell in skirts", in reference to her former membership of the ALP. Sutton nevertheless stood against fellow councillor and Liberal candidate Andrew Humpherson, taking second place and forcing Humpherson to rely on preferences to be elected in a traditionally very safe seat, with Sutton gaining 29.5 percent of the primary vote and 40.3 percent of the two party preferred vote.[9]

Remaining on Council, following the proclamation of former A Riding as Pittwater Council, her D Riding was renamed 'C Ward', and she was elected as Deputy Mayor from 1994-1995 (following the passing of the Local Government Act 1993, Warringah Council dropped 'Shire' and Shire Presidents became Mayors). From 19 September 1995 Sutton was elected as "Her Worship the Mayor of Warringah Council", becoming the second Mayor of Warringah and the first female leader of the Council.[5] As Mayor she assisted in the establishment of the Austlink Business Park between Frenchs Forest Road and Warringah Road, in Frenchs Forest, providing hundreds of jobs in Warringah. She remained as Mayor until 24 September 1996. Sutton was again elected Deputy Mayor alongside Darren Jones from 2001-2002 before returning as Mayor from 26 September 2002 until the Council's dismissal on 23 July 2003.[5]

Later career

Sutton continued serving the community for the next five years without a Council under the Administration of Dick Persson. This lasted until the local government elections of 23 September 2008, which saw her elected for another four-year term in C Ward, making Sutton the longest-serving member of the council.[10] On 30 September 2011, Sutton was elected by the council as Deputy Mayor. On her election, the Mayor, Michael Regan, congratulated Sutton "who has served the community of Warringah with loyalty and passion for more than 30 years".[11] On her election Sutton also made clear that her current term would be her last, announcing her intention not to stand for re-election at the 2012 NSW Local Government Elections.[12]

On 29 May 2012, Sutton was tributed in the NSW Parliament by the current Member for Davidson, Jonathan O'Dea and the Member for Wakehurst, Brad Hazzard, and who nominated her for the Woman of the Year award.[6] On 24 August 2012, at the final council meeting before the elections, Sutton was awarded the title of Emeritus Mayor by the Local Government Associations of NSW in recognition of her service to Warringah Council.[13] Mayor Regan noted her final meeting as a Councillor by saying: "Councillor Sutton has only ever missed one council meeting since she joined Council in 1980 – this is quite a remarkable testament to her work ethic and commitment to her role as a Councillor. Councillor Sutton will of course be fondly remembered for her epic contribution to this community by our local MPs, former Councillors, staff and the residents – she has worked incredibly hard and achieved a great many things. Councillor Sutton has had an impact on us all. She has entertained us with her wit and reminded us of what really matters within this community. I know that while she will no longer be sitting here at this table, she will continue to work tirelessly as she always has to help so many and the community she loves."[14]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Alafaci, Annette (2 February 2006). "Sutton, Julie (1937 - )". The Australian Women's Register. The National Foundation for Australian Women. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  2. 1 2 "Julie Sutton for Mayor of Warringah". Julie Sutton. Archived from the original on 11 September 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  3. Collier, Shayne; Murray, Therese (26 March 1987). "Warringah Reborn". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  4. Collier, Shayne (26 March 1987). "Warringah Reborn". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  5. 1 2 3 "Presidents, Mayors, Councillors, Shire Clerks and General Managers of Warringah Council" (PDF). Warringah Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 July 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  6. 1 2 Jonathan O'Dea; Brad Hazzard (29 May 2012). "Tribute to Julie Sutton". Hansard. Parliament of NSW. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  7. "Metherell seat goes to polls today". The Canberra Times. 66, (20,838). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 2 May 1992. p. 2. Retrieved 11 November 2016 via National Library of Australia.
  8. Green, Antony. "Davidson - 1988". New South Wales Elections Database. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  9. Green, Antony. "Davidson by-election - 1992". New South Wales Elections Database. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
  10. Chelsea White; John Morcombe (22 September 2008). "Regan heads new-look council". The Manly Daily. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
  11. Media Release (30 September 2011). "Julie Sutton elected Deputy Mayor". Warringah Council. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  12. Frost, Carleen (6 October 2011). "Warringah deputy to hang up boots". The Manly Daily. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  13. Chang, Charis (30 August 2012). "Sutton's mayoral honour". The Manly Daily. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  14. Regan, Michael (28 August 2012). "Mayoral Minute No. 8/2012 Last meeting of the currently elected Councillors" (PDF). Mayoral Minutes. Warringah Council. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
Civic offices
Preceded by
Mark Hummerston
Deputy Shire President of Warringah
1987  1988
Succeeded by
Brian Green
Preceded by
Brian Green
Deputy Shire President of Warringah
1989  1990
Succeeded by
Frank Beckman
Preceded by
Andrew Humpherson
Deputy Shire President of Warringah
1992  1993
Succeeded by
Sam Danieli
as Deputy Mayor
Preceded by
Sam Danieli
Deputy Mayor of Warringah
1994  1995
Succeeded by
Sam Danieli
Preceded by
Brian Green
Mayor of Warringah
1995  1996
Succeeded by
Sam Danieli
Preceded by
Darren Jones
Deputy Mayor of Warringah
2001  2002
Succeeded by
David Stephens
Preceded by
Darren Jones
Mayor of Warringah
2002  2003
Succeeded by
Dick Persson
as Administrator
Preceded by
Michelle Ray
Deputy Mayor of Warringah
2011  2012
Succeeded by
Bob Giltinan


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