Rhoades brings the curtain down on a storied career in LG

Former Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) Vice President Keith Rhoades will not be a candidate in September’s NSW council elections.

His
departure marks the end of a 30-year career in local government.

Cr Rhoads
was first elected to the Coffs Harbour City Council in 1991. He was elected
deputy mayor in 2000 and mayor in 2004, serving in that position until 2012.

In 2008, he was elected to the Board of the Local Government Association of NSW before becoming its president, a role he held for seven years.

Cr Rhoades was
appointed to the Board of the ALGA in 2010, serving two years as the Vice
President and standing down in 2017.

He cited his support for the upgrade of Coffs Harbour Airport in 1993 as one of the most significant decisions taken in his three decades on the council. The airport is now recognised as one of the best in regional Australia.

Cr Rhoades told local media: “I enjoyed my experience in local government and wish all candidates well in the upcoming election in September.

“If you stand
on a platform of achieving local outcomes for your local community and not
introducing party politics you may well succeed.

“There is
no place for party politics on Coffs Harbour Council. Local government is about
local people making local decisions on behalf of local residents.”