Meander Valley Mayor Wayne Johnston to not recontest upcoming election

Meander Valley Mayor Wayne Johnston will not recontest at the upcoming local government elections.

He has held the role since 2018 and is also the Chief Executive of Poppy Growers Tasmania, Chairperson of the Tasmanian Game Council, and a board member of the Tasmanian Dairy Industry Authority.

Cr Johnston said he had lost the will to run in another election.

“I travelled a bit last year with the caravan, and I’ve got four grandchildren now that I didn’t have eight years ago, and life moves on,” he said.

“I don’t think I’ve got the passion to put into it, but I’ll see this term out.”

He also said that constant criticism, especially on social media, had worn him down.

“Very rarely do councillors get praised for the things they do.

“It’s so easy for people to criticise, and my wife’s been saying for the last four years, ‘why do I put myself in this position?’.

“But it’s about community service.”

Cr Johnston said he believed the Meander Valley Council was in a better position now than when he first became mayor.

“We’ve got about 100 in our workforce and we’re a $30 million business.

“We’ve got to be consistently doing what our residents ask us to do, but we’ve got to give them what they need, not what they want.”

Once he leaves the council following the November elections, Cr Johnston said he plans to focus on his other roles.

“I’m also aiming to play every golf course in Tasmania, and my wife wants to go on more holidays.

“I’ll be easing up more than anything, but will still make a contribution to the community where I can.”