Albert Jacob with Joondalup Mayor Troy Pickard.
Camera IconAlbert Jacob with Joondalup Mayor Troy Pickard. Credit: Supplied/Martin Kennealey d471913

EXCLUSIVE: Albert Jacob confirms he will run for Joondalup mayor

Tyler BrownJoondalup Times

MORE: Former Ocean Reef MLA Albert Jacob elected Joondalup mayor

A FORMER minister in the dumped Barnett Government has ended months of speculation and declared he will run for mayor of Joondalup in October.

Albert Jacob, who lost his Burns Beach seat at the March State poll, told the Weekender of his decision to return to political life this week after a meeting with Mayor Troy Pickard, who has decided not to stand.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

The former environment and heritage minister said he was a lifelong member of the community who still had “a passion to work towards outcomes”.

MORE: Joondalup Mayor Troy Pickard declares intention to stand for re-election

“Some people might see this as a play back into state politics; it is definitely not,” Mr Jacob said.

“I’ve got a young family and this is not that at all.

“This is a chance to really bed down and keep working for outcomes in my local community.”

The 37-year-old said he would “go in to this as an independent”.

“You don’t run on a party ticket for council,” he said.

“You run to work with the Government of the day – State and Federal – and that’s something I’m very keen to do.”

Mr Jacob, who has just been appointed the business development and engagement executive adviser at ECU, said his campaign priorities would be “to see ground break” on the Ocean Reef Marina and Boas Place city centre development, and for a dual-use path between Burns Beach and Mindarie.

He also wants to “get his teeth into” the Percy Doyle Reserve redevelopment and Whitfords Nodes fitness staircase, which he worked on when environment minister, and would be advocating for a shade sail policy for playgrounds in the City.

He said he supported a performing arts centre, as he believed “most people in the community” did.

“The question has really been around how and when, and that conversation will be ongoing with the local community,” he said.

As well as “knowing how state government works,” Mr Jacob said he also had the advantage of having “sat around the table with a lot of the current councillors”.

He was elected to the North Central ward in 2006 as “part of that intake that took over from the commissioners”, the same year Mr Pickard was elected mayor alongside current councillors Tom McLean, Kerry Hollywood and Russ Fishwick.

In September 2008, Mr Jacob was elected as the Ocean Reef MLA, a position he held until this year.

“I’ve still got a passion to be involved and provide good, solid governance, engaging with and listening to the community as well,” he said.

“I think I showed that continually as a local MP and if I can just focus on the local community, it would be an honour and a privilege.

Pickard happy to pass the torch to Jacob

JOONDALUP Mayor Troy Pickard will retire at the October local government election and “make way for a new mayor”.

His decision follows a meeting with Albert Jacob on Monday morning where the former environment and heritage minister flagged his intention to run for mayor.

“I was pleased with his enthusiasm,” Mr Pickard said.

“With a person like Albert Jacob putting his hand up, I’m confident the community will have a good option,” Mr Pickard said.

“I personally think he would be a great mayor for Joondalup and that’s just the type of person that I wanted to see to come forward. It’s about what’s best for the City and that is someone who is going to be a strong, effective mayor, has got the capacity and, importantly, is community-first and not about self-interest.”

Mr Pickard told the Weekender he was not sure what was next for him but it would “definitely not” be state or federal politics.

“I think it’s an opportunity for me to assess my future and put my family and myself first,” he said.

“Though the last decade has been a great opportunity and wonderful experience, the priorities of the City take a lot of time from family.”

Mr Pickard, who has a business interest in the Bucking Bull fast food franchise, was elected mayor in 2006, making him the longest-serving Joondalup mayor when he retires after more than 11 years.

MORE: Murdoch University open day set to draw crowds

MORE: Emergency responders talking up organ, tissue donation

MORE: Spicemama bringing the tradition of Indian cooking into Perth homes