In a surprising shake-up ahead of the Cessnock Council elections, outgoing Liberal Councilor Karen Jackson has endorsed Labor’s Jay Suvaal for Mayor and urged voters in Ward B to support Labor, following a major setback for the Liberal Party. Due to an administrative error by the party’s head office, the necessary paperwork wasn’t submitted on time, effectively disqualifying Liberal candidates from contesting key seats in the upcoming election. This blunder has thrown the race wide open, prompting Jackson to break ranks and back her former political rivals.
Jackson, caught in the fallout of the Liberal Party’s mishap, expressed her frustration but acknowledged that voters still need capable leadership. By endorsing Suvaal and urging Ward B voters to choose Labor, she is signaling a shift in priorities towards stability and governance, rather than strict party loyalty. Her endorsement could significantly sway voters who now find themselves without a Liberal option.
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