Yesterday, Lismore’s Lord Mayor, Isaac Smith handed in his resignation from his role in council. He said his resignation will take effect on January 31 and a new mayor will be elected at the first Council meeting on February 9 next year. Read more: Who will put their hand up to be Lismore’s next mayor?

“I wanted to be clear before the end of year what my intentions were,” Cr Smith said. “I wanted to let all the politicians and council staff know that next year I’m stepping down.

Cr Smith began his career in Lismore City Councillor in 2008 - 13 years ago - spending eight years as a councillor and four and a half years as mayor. Earlier in 2020, just before Covid began, he also stepped up as chief executive of local NGO, HART Services. Next year, he intends to focus on his CEO role.

“Juggling the role of mayor and chief executive is time consuming,” Isaac said. “It is better if someone else who has time to do everything the role of mayor needs steps in to do it.

“2020 was a difficult year for everyone there have also been impacts on my family life, with having a busy job.”

In the course of his term as mayor of Lismore, Cr Smith said the hardest times were during the 2017 flood.

“For me being on the ground from beginning and staying there for weeks on end with the community took a hard toll,” he said “My term as mayor was about extremes - natural disasters and complicated issues at council."

Then there were the Council budget shortfalls, the SRV and resignations of fellow councillors Gianpiero Battista and Greg Bennett in August this year when their elected terms expired.

“It’s been one of the toughest jobs being on a council trying to get decisions made between different groups of people – whether it was a small DA to a large environmental issue.

“Being mayor can be hard, but we act together as a group of councillors to make the hard decisions. We saw other councils fall over last year and Lismore City Council stayed.

“We’ve tackled some tough issues over the past four years, but I see my legacy as leaving a foundation for the future of city. I’ve spent all my life taking about the potential for the future of Lismore.”

Before Cr Smith took the mayoral reins, he said he was mentored by previous mayor Jenny Dowell and that the ensuing years have all been worthwhile.

With an election coming up in September 2021, Cr Smith advises anyone considering to step up onto council or into the role of mayor in future to do your research, go to meetings, and understand what you are putting your hand up for.

“I leave knowing Council is in good hands and I trust Council staff – they do a phenomenal job," he said.

When it comes to the people who have given him a hard time through his term as mayor, Isaac said “in the end, people hate the position”.

“Most of the people I meet are trying to get the best outcome for themselves or their families,” he said.

“I believe everyone wants the best and I don’t wish anyone ill. I hope they all have a safe and peaceful Christmas and work with people on Council to get things happening.”