PETER Lyndon-James has announced his resignation from the City of Swan council and abandoned his Senate campaign to focus on his work with controversial drug rehabilitation facility Shalom House.
Mr Lyndon-James handed his resignation letter to City of Swan CEO Mike Foley today.
“I put my hand up to run for local council with the intention to serve the local community, to be a voice for those who didn’t have one and to try and help anyone experiencing the red-tape and bureaucracy issues like I was,” Mr Lyndon-James said in a statement.
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“I fought for honesty, transparency and accountability.”
But Mr Lyndon-James said he was frustrated by council regulations.
“The many Codes of Conduct governing the operations of local councils, however, have put a muzzle on me and other councillors who are trying to do the good work of serving the community,” he said.
“I know that they effectively prevent us from helping people and in doing our jobs.”
In November Mr Lyndon-James sought a leave of absence from council to focus on his attempt to win a Senate seat, after announcing in October he would crowd fund for the campaign.
But that idea has been scrapped too.
Swan chief executive Mike Foley accepted his resignation.
“Today, I received the resignation of Altone Ward Councillor Peter Lyndon-James, effective immediately. I have accepted his resignation this afternoon,” he said.
“I will now prepare a report to council which will be considered at the next ordinary council meeting on January 16.
“I will also liaise with the West Australian Electoral Commission to set a date for an extraordinary election in 2019.
“I would like to thank Peter for the time he has served on the City of Swan Council over the past 14 months.”
Mr Lyndon-James said he would now shift his focus back to Shalom House, a men’s rehabilitation centre dubbed the strictest and most effective in Australia.
“Over the past couple of years, I have had people from not only Australia, but all over the world, approach me and spend time at Shalom House to learn and replicate the model elsewhere,” he said.
“There is a large need for help in this area and it is about to increase because of the decisions our State Government is about to make, which will exponentially grow the problem we already have.
“Looking ahead, I need to put things in place to prepare for the outcomes that I expect will be caused by the Labor government’s mistakes.
“I will be travelling around the country, helping others with the same heart and intentions by sharing what I have learnt and assisting them in opening the much-needed facilities.
“Finally, to all who voted for me, I assure them that their vote did not go to waste.
“The knowledge and experience I have gained whilst on Council and how it operates, will enable to me to serve them – the resident, the ratepayer, the everyday Australian – in other ways.”