For the first time ever, three openly-gay councillors will be running on the Liberal ticket in the Randwick City Council’s local election, as part of the New South Wales local government elections on Saturday, September 13.

The candidates are current mayor Bruce Notley-Smith, elected to council in 2000 and to mayor in September 2007, Scott Nash, elected to council in 2004, and new candidate, long-time Kingsford resident, freelance designer and host of Channel 31’s ‘Yianni’s City Life’ television show, Yianni Zinonos (pictured).

Zinonos, who is running second on the ticket for the west ward, told SX that Notley-Smith’s election as the area’s first out mayor has helped increase gay and lesbian presence in the area.

“What’s happening is really positive. It’s perfectly fine to be gay and in politics,” Zinonos said.

“We’re in a predicament where there are a lot of gay residents but they’re not vocal. If there’s any way that the local gay and lesbian community want to get involved in the council, we would be very happy to assist them.”

Zinonos also praises Notley-Smith and Nash for their positive work over the past few years including fixing roads and creating better recycling systems.

The Randwick City Council encompasses part of Centennial Park, as well as Chifley, Clovelly, Coogee, Kensington, Kingsford, La Perouse, Little Bay, Malabar, Maroubra, Matraville, Port Botany, Phillip Bay, Randwick and South Coogee. Over 128,400 people live in the area, according to the 2007 ABS Census.

-Adam Bub

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