Ratepayer protest calls for Redlands mayor Karen Williams to resign

The protest was held before the ordinary monthly council meeting, which acting mayor Julie Talty will chair.

Protesters say they want to show the public has lost confidence in mayor Karen Williams and that any councillor supporting the mayor to stay would pay at the ballot box.

Ratepayer Aileen Scott said the mayor should not wait until her court case to resign.

"The mayor should actually say to herself. This is not right. I made a mistake. I have some moral substance. So I should resign," she said.

"The mayor must show some integrity."

When asked why the mayor should resign when many others have kept their jobs after a drink driving charge Ms Scott said community leaders should be held to a higher standard than ordinary people.

"Well, I feel to have the position of mayor of our community, you have to be above reproach and you're leading a community and you surely are by example, and after the recent victims in this area, I think it's just so hypocritical to stay," she said.

"The right and the moral thing to do is to resign and bring on a by-election."

Fellow ratepayer Veronica Robinson also believes the mayor should stand down.

"Over the years, there have been other counsellors who have been stood down for a lot less serious offences, but they were clearly outlined in the rulebook," she said.

"Unfortunately, the rulebook doesn't have anything about drink driving. So that's why nothing can be done to encourage the mayor to resign by following the rules because when they made the rules or standing orders they never expected to have a standing order about people drink driving."

Community Alliance for Responsible Planning (CARP) Redlands Inc spokesperson Lavinia Wood said she thought staying on as mayor was the worst possible choice Cr Williams could make.

"Her legacy of 18 years of service is being diminished," she said.

"It has now been reduced to what is effectively a cage fight, a last bitter ugly struggle.

"I would say to her. This is not leadership. This is self-serving procrastination."

Redlands resident Dennis Schulze was the sole supporter of the mayor at the protest.

"Do you all think it is okay to harass a woman online endlessly for a mistake," he said.

"Has anyone considered the mayor's metal health during this social media pile-on."