Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore And Her Challengers

The last time Sydney had a new Lord Mayor was in 2004, when Clover Moore was elected to the top post. Over the next two decades and past four elections, contenders have attempted and failed to dislodge Moore. 

This election a fresh batch of contenders will once again be vying to be City of Sydney’s Lord Mayor. 

CityHub looks at what Moore and her contenders are offering.

The Incumbent

Clover Moore – Independent 

Clover Moore is the incumbent Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney Council. Moore is the longest-serving, and the first woman elected Lord Mayor in City of Sydney’s history. If successful this will be her sixth term as Lord Mayor.

Moore shared on Instagram, “I am energised about our work transforming the City. There are reminders everywhere: award-winning parks and community facilities, busy bike lanes, thriving villages with greener and transformed high streets, light rail and pedestrianised George Street.”

“But the work to ensure the City is a great place to live, work, and visit – with environmental, social, and economic sustainability at its heart – is far from over.”

The Challengers

Zann Maxwell – Labor

Zann Maxwell was born on Lord Howell Island. At age seven, he moved to New Zealand with his mum. In 2011, Maxwell moved to Melbourne where he got a degree in postgraduate law, before moving to Sydney in 2017. Maxwell’s first political job was as an electorate officer for Bill Shorten, then the opposition leader. 

A priority for Maxwell, a renter himself, is affordability and ensuring Sydney is accessible to everyone.

“Sydney now needs a stronger commitment to fairness and getting the basics right. That’s how we’ll build a Sydney that doesn’t just look great, but actually is great,” Maxwell told CityHub.

He continued, “My number one goal as Lord Mayor is a better deal for those of us who are locked out of Sydney by the affordability crisis.” 

Sylvie Ellsmore – Greens

Sylvie Ellsmore, a resident of Darlington, is currently a Greens Councillor on the City of Sydney Council. She was the Deputy Mayor from 2022-2023 and Chair of the Council’s Housing for All Working Group.

Ellsmore was a councillor for Marrickville Council from 2012-2016, where she represented Newtown. She also has experience as a native title lawyer, senior policy manager and community organiser.

She is also a founding member of her local residents’ action group as well as a volunteer karate teacher.

“My number one goal is to ensure Council takes stronger action to address the housing affordability crisis,” Ellsmore said.

“Over the last twenty years, the gap between rich and poor has grown. Sydney has become the second most expensive city for housing in the world. This is the biggest threat to the city’s vibrancy and diversity.”

Yvonne Weldon – Independent

Yvonne Weldon is currently an Independent councillor on the City of Sydney Council. As a proud Wiradjuri woman, she became the first Aboriginal councillor on the City of Sydney Council. Weldon also has over thirty years experience volunteering with community organisations.”

“My primary goal is to lead on housing. As rents have soared, housing in the inner city has become unaffordable and too many in our community are being forced out.”

Weldon continued, “As Mayor, I’ll double the City’s Affordable Housing Fund to provide more homes for young people, essential workers, creatives and entrepreneurs. I’ll also require and incentivise major developments to include affordable rental housing built on site. And I’ll fight tooth and nail to retain existing affordable housing.”

Lyndon Gannon – Liberal

Lyndon Gannon is a lifelong resident of Sydney, Elected in 2021, he is currently a Liberal Councillor on the City of Sydney Council. 

Lyndon is a lifelong Sydney local and is passionate about making Sydney “the thriving Global City we used to know and love.” 

“Our Emerald City should be about aspiration. It needs a leader who is ambitious for it and knows what its people want. I am the only one with the experience, energy, and proven track record of delivering for this important job,” Gannon told CityHub.

Rachel Evans – Socialist Alliance

Rachel Evans is a lifelong activist. She is one of the founders of the grassroots marriage equality campaign. Evans is a disability support worker, involved in the Palestine solidarity movement. She also helped establish the City of Sydney for Palestine group. 

Sean Masters – Libertarian

A Surry Hills resident for almost 30 years, Sean Masters works as a Creative Director with a background in advertising.

Sean’s number one priority if he wins is to “take the ideological garbage out of council so the council can get back to what it should be doing: taking out the garbage.”

Sam Danieli – Independent 

Sam Danieli is an accountant and principal of his own firm in Sydney’s CBD, with over 40 years of experience in business. Danieli was the former Mayor of Warringah Council from 1996-1998 and has 8 years of council experience.

Danieli’s number one priority, if elected, is to “bring in fresh ideas about how Council is structured, for example, I will restructure town planning to have a dedicated affordable housing department or introduce an office of nightlife similar to New York City or London. And I will get rid of the rats!”

Baiyu Jessica Chen – Independent

Baiyu Jessica Chen has a background in graphic design, fashion design, administration, retail service, marketing and communications.

“My priority for the City of Sydney is to change the legislation to allow commercial property to be used as residential property. This way the housing supply will increase immediately, demand on the real estate market will decrease, the rent will come down, and everyone will have more money in their hand after they pay for the basic bills, and it is good for the whole economy,” said Chen.

Sue Ritchie – Independent

Sue Ritchie, a resident of the Oxford Street precinct, has 35 years of experience as a business owner as well as 20 years of corporate experience as an IT consultant specialising in strategic planning, change management, and project delivery.

“My number one goal as Lord Mayor would be to bring Oxford Street to life, from Hyde Park to Centennial Park, as a visually stimulating, diverse, edgy place, that creates happiness, self-expression and pride in Sydney, putting Oxford Street back on the global stage, where it belongs, as an internationally recognised LGBTQIA+ icon and brand for Sydney,” said Ritchie.   

The City of Sydney Council Election is on September 14.