A TURN UP FOR THE BOOKS: Darren's bailed from Launceston's Council

Well, well, well how the worm turns. In 2014, and at about this time of year, the then Mr Alexander was aspiring to be Launceston's mayor [Link] but he pulled up short. 

So, now its 2018 and Ald/Mr Alexander has bailed, thrown in the towel and is as they say "is moving on"! As is usual at times like this there is always a colleague or two hanging around to say what a good chap you've been and to "wish you well in your next venture" etc. etc . etc. – see below.

Looking ahead Launcestonians will have at least one seat around the table filled with a new alderman. And, its looking like its going to be a bit of a tussle for others as we listen to the punters as we go around the traps door knocking.

Last week's goings on in Canberra will not be going unnoticed around town and what looked like a reasonable strategy last week, well its not looking so clever this week.

Party politics has a rather nasty smell about it in local government! And, it's really on the nose now.

With news that Launceston's population is shrinking, while Tasmania's is growing significantly, Darren's move may well be an exemplar of what's actually going on and why. However, one shouldn't be frightening the horses too much.

When Darren joined Council: 

• The city's debt was nominal but it has now blown out to $20million or thereabouts; 
• The University of Tasmania (UTAS) was also ticking along albeit quietly while currently it's in upheaval with large slabs of its program under threat; 
• The City Council had not yet promised to hand over large slabs of land to UTAS that may or may not be built on;
• You could still buy Lonnie's Boags beer at York Park; and
• The silos were still empty.

So, the world moves on and we need to keep on bracing ourselves for change.

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FROM THE EXAMINER ... Darren Alexander has quit as alderman of City of Launceston Council. ............ Mr Alexander made the announcement during the council’s August meeting on Monday. ............ “Today will be my last day as an alderman of this great city,” Ald Alexander told his colleagues at the meeting. ............ “I have truly enjoyed my time on the City of Launceston Council and, more importantly, I’ve enjoyed working with all aldermen throughout this term.” ............ Fellow alderman Danny Gibson paid tribute to his colleague on social media. ............ “Alderman Darren Alexander has today resigned from our City of Launceston. I wish him well,” Ald Gibson wrote on Facebook. ............ Ald Alexander was elected at the 2014 local government elections and cited business and family reasons behind the decision. ............ Alderman Darren Alexander (centre) with his local government colleagues after being elected to the City of Launceston Council in 2014. Alderman Darren Alexander (centre) with his local government colleagues after being elected to the City of Launceston Council in 2014. ............ City of Launceston council mayor Albert van Zetten thanked Alderman Alexander for his time on the council. ............ “Darren has been a larger-than-life addition to the council and it has been fantastic to have an alderman who is such an enthusiast for technology and the business sector represented in Launceston,” Ald van Zetten said. ............ As the resignation comes within six months of a local government election, there will not be a recount for Ald Alexander’s position on the council. ............The Launceston council elections will be held in October.