Cr Maxine Smith
COUNCILLOR Maxine Smith was in emotional turmoil during Monday’s no confidence motion debate against Singleton mayor Sue Moore.
Cr Smith left the council chamber in tears and considered resigning on the spot.
Instead, she pulled herself together, returned for a divided no confidence vote, became upset again and left.
Although not wanting to walk back into that room again she’s decided to try and attend meetings until the September 8 local government election.
But she certainly is not interested in recontesting her position.
“I couldn’t do it, I’m not tough enough,” she told The Argus.
“On Monday I didn’t realise how I felt, it just came bubbling up.
“I felt the motion was so sad and thought ‘what the hell am I doing in the council?’ ”
While Cr Smith was noticeably overcome, councillors Lyn MacBain and Ruth Rogers also appeared upset.
Cr Godfrey Adamthwaite congratulated Cr Smith on her courage and several other councillors told The Argus that the no confidence motion was one of the most difficult matters they had ever had to deal with.
Cr MacBain said: “What’s been going on in the council for a couple of years now is very upsetting and this latest meeting has really taken the enthusiasm out for me standing as a councillor again.”
“It’s like I’m watching the council destroy itself and I can’t stop it.
“I’ll make a final decision about standing at the end of the month.”
Cr Smith said: “I’m so sick and tied of it.
“I came here to do the right thing and support the community, but there has been so many stupid arguments I’ve been embarrassed to be a councillor.
“I regret that I haven’t been able to do something about appropriate representation in the council and I can’t fully explain what the last four years have been about.”
Cr Smith said the difficulty of not standing for re-election was compounded by the fact that everyone associated with the council - staff, fellow councillors and community members had all been respectful to her.
“It’s not easy,” she said.
“It’s just that what’s happening in there is not what we were elected to do.
“Why would anyone want to do it?”