Sixth candidate declares mayoral bid

Sandy Anghie, manager of FJM Property’s Historic Heart Project, has announced she will join the race for Lord Mayor of the City of Perth.

Ms Anghie brings extensive corporate experience to the race, having worked with the likes of KPMG, Herbert Smith Freehills and EY in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

She returned to The University of Western Australia in 2006 to study architecture and has worked with FJM Property since 2016 on its Historic Heart of Perth project.

That project has focused on revitalizing the city’s east end and has attracted about $1.6 million in funding since its inception.

Announcing her bid this morning, Ms Anghie said her work through the project made her well suited to the role of mayor.

“I have seen the difference that can be made within a community through this work and want to take the success we have achieved in the east end of Perth, build on it, and amplify it across the city,” she said.

“Working together as a community, engaging key stakeholders, sharing a vision and executing as a team makes a difference and this is what our city needs.”

“While a proud independent with a clear vision and ideas of what I want to achieve, I will work collaboratively with fellow councillors, local businesses, community groups, residents, the tourism sector, the state government and others to achieve a prosperous and vibrant city we are all proud of.”

Ms Anghie told Business News her platform would focus on building an identity for the city’s five suburbs, positing that the cultural vibrancy of global cities such as London or New York was a result of its patchwork of suburban identities.

“What makes [those cities] special are those distinct neighborhoods that make them up,” Ms Anghie told Business News.

“We’ve got some great neighborhoods already … that each have a distinct character.

“Through building this authentic identity in our neighborhoods, this is what will make people want to live in the city.”

Ms Anghie joins a crowded race for mayor that includes Activate Perth chair Di Bain and Spacecubed founder and managing director Brodie McCulloch.

Channel 7 presenter Basil Zempilas is widely believed to be the frontrunner, though the absence of polling means it is difficult to accurately assess who is leading in the race.

Fellow media personality Mark Gibson and retired magistrate Tim Schwass are also in contention for the top job.

Elsewhere on the ballot, Mustang Bar managing director Michael Keiller and former City of Bayswater councillor Brent Fleeton have both declared bids for council in the past week.

Neither candidate has endorsed anyone in the mayoral race.

The City of Perth has been without elected representation since the council’s suspension in 2018.

Elections to the city’s mayoralty and eight council positions will be held on October 17.