It appears leadership runs in the blood, as loved ones make this Local Government Election a family affair.
The Garrards are a well-known and respected Local Government family name in the Parramatta and Cumberland regions, and have registered five members from three generations of their tribe to run this December.
Local Government veteran Paul Garrard will recontest his seat in Cumberland City’s South Granville Ward, representing the Our Local Community (OLC) party, which he founded in 2013.
Cr Garrad was previously Lord Mayor of the former Parramatta City Council six times and has served in Local Government for 47 years.
He will be joined on the Cumberland campaign trail by his wife Karen Garrard who will run as number three on the OLC Granville ticket.
Cr Garrard has been a strong mentor for his daughter, City of Parramatta four-time Deputy Lord Mayor Michelle Garrard who will recontest her position in the Dundas Ward. Her two children will also take up the challenge, with 20-year-old Kiara Garrard-Williams running as OLC’s second candidate in North Rocks and 27-year-old Jason Garrard running as number three on OLC’s Parramatta Ward ticket.
Cr Garrard said he felt proud to see his legacy in Local Government passed through generations.
“I think it clearly indicates that Local Government is in our DNA,” he said.
“Not only do we have five candidates for our family but I have two other children employed in the Local Government industry.”
Cr Michelle Garrard said watching her dad being a dedicated community person growing up ignited her aspirations to follow in his footsteps.
“My children have been part of a Local Government family their whole life, in the same fashion I was with my dad so we all aspire to be community representatives,” she said.
The OLC party is hopeful to increase its representation and plan to be an independent voice for the community that focuses on local issues, if elected.
The Garrard family isn’t the only last name appearing more than once on the Electoral Commision register.
Also part of the OLC Party, Dan Siviero and his wife Angela will run alongside each other in the City of Parramatta’s Rosehill Ward.
Liberal Democrats Charles and Hugo Rios will run together in the Parramatta Ward. In Cumberland, Councillor Joseph Rahme will recontest his position in the Graville Ward with his wife Melissa Rahme running as number three on Michael Zaiter’s Wentworthville ticket.
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.