WITH the local government election looming, women have been warned about the "boys' club" culture they could be stepping into if they are elected to Bathurst Regional Council.
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Resident Vanessa Comiskey slammed male councillors during the public forum at last week's council meeting, saying their behaviour in recent years has deterred her from running as a candidate in September.
She said she was "sounding the alarm" to others, particularly women, who are considering running for council, warning them about the toxic environment she has witnessed.
"For anyone who wants to see what I'm talking about, all one needs to do is jump onto YouTube and watch the ordinary meetings in the last 12 months, just to see the hot mess of toxic personalities and dirty tactics that are always being used to push agendas and stroke the egos of the male councillors who are currently in office, and how they treat their female counterparts, because it is often not very nice," Ms Comiskey said.
"... From what I can tell, none of [the councillors] know how to be humble or take the high road, but instead it's a free-for-all of name calling, belittling, in-fighting, transference of blame, arguing and backstabbing, instead of working as a team."
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She said the behaviour of councillors was deterring women from wanting to join council, and advised women to consider the environment they would be stepping into before deciding to run for election.
"So females, be warned, council is and always has been a boys' club. They all want respect, yet don't respect one another, let alone the community members they are supposedly working for," she said.
Ms Comiskey also said that councillors had been disrespectful on numerous occasions over the last 14 years as she sought improvements for the community.
Although she didn't name them, she claimed that "mocked, laughed at and lectured" during her first phone call with one councillor.
"Since that time over the 14 years I have approached or appealed to numerous councillors about many concerns and suggestions that I've had for improving the community," she said.
"I have been belittled, palmed-off, ignored, laughed at, mansplained to and made to feel as though I was too forward-thinking or unrealistic in my ideas.
"Instead of explaining to me respectfully as to why my ideas may not be possible, councillors don't get back to me or talk to me as if I am stupid."
The council election will be held on Saturday, September 4. People have until August 4 to register as a candidate.
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