Shoalhaven Councillor Ben Krikstolaitis is facing growing calls to resign after he proposed a motion urging the New South Wales government to place Shoalhaven City Council into administration.
Krikstolaitis, a Jervis Bay Labor member, described the new mayor, Patricia White, as incompetent and criticised the council’s leadership for mismanaging the city’s finances.
In a motion presented at a recent Labor branch meeting, Krikstolaitis stated: “The Shoalhaven Independents, Mayor Patricia White and her colleague councillors cannot demonstrate an ability to oversee either the strategic or financial management of Shoalhaven City Council, which has quickly fallen into disarray.”
His motion follows a report from an independent economic group in November 2023, which found the council to be financially unsustainable, warning that it could lose millions over the next decade unless significant changes were made.
In response, the council has implemented rate hikes and suspended over 90 projects to address the financial crisis.
Fellow councillors have strongly condemned Krikstolaitis’ remarks. Councillor Selena Clancy said she would call for his resignation at the first council meeting of 2025, stating, “I will be asking him to consider resigning because he doesn’t have confidence in the mayor or his fellow councillors.”
Community members are also demanding his resignation. Shoalhaven resident Jacqui Burke has launched an online petition, which has gathered nearly 200 signatures.
“The residents of Shoalhaven City, as well as all people who believe in the fair and ethical conduct of those in power, must now stand together to demand his immediate resignation,” Burke said.
Councillor Bob Proudfoot has proposed a motion for the January 21 council meeting, calling for clarification of Krikstolaitis’ “ill-informed” comments.
Source: Daily Telegraph.
