LESS than a month after she stepped out of her own mayoral office, former Lake Macquarie council boss Kay Fraser has stepped into another, taking a casual job as Newcastle lord mayor Ross Kerridge's chief of staff.
Cr Kerridge came under fire earlier this month when Labor councillors accused him of "cronyism" for recommending Labor party dissident and the author of a 104-page dossier detailing alleged bullying within the party, Andrew Piper, for the role.
Ms Fraser started the job this week after an interview with Newcastle council chief executive Jeremy Bath, while the City of Newcastle (CN) said no decision had been made on Mr Piper's employment.
Cr Kerridge said his new temporary chief of staff had vast experience and knowledge and he was looking forward to working alongside her.
"She has already won awards and has recognition for her excellence and so would be seen as a mentor to any lord mayor," he said.
"It's on a limited basis, it's a casual position and I value her advice."
Ms Fraser announced she would not contest the election in Lake Macquarie earlier this year, having served as an east ward Labor councillor for 12 years, between 2004 and 2016, and mayor for the last eight.
Known around the shores of Lake Macquarie as 'the architect', 'the naughty aunty', a well-regarded Labor councillor and 'madam mayor', Ms Fraser made a name for herself with a more collaborative approach to leadership.
But, she was never afraid to advocate with an iron fist if it meant getting the best for Lake Macquarie.
It is that commitment to good governance and teamwork she hopes will be an asset in her role as chief of staff.
"He [Cr Kerridge] hasn't been part of local government, so obviously it's a steep learning curve, even for a councillor stepping up to mayor," she said.
"Having chaired meetings for eight years and knowing the Local Government Act and bits and pieces about that is really important."
Ms Fraser said she had to undergo an interview, complete forms and provide referees "just like everyone else".
When Ms Fraser was first elected in Lake Macquarie she was one of two women in the chamber and previously told the Newcastle Herald it was a "very intimidating" environment.
In her first term as mayor, she said the council was not overly "cohesive" and she had to work hard to shape a collaborative dynamic.
"I think that's part of the role of mayor and lord mayor, to bring people together, and that's all about leadership," she said.
"Ross has already demonstrated that with his career, it's just a different bunch of people and it's political.
"So knowing how to go through that process and making sure he leads fairly, which he will, and be a strong mayor and a fair man, I think he'll do really well."
Matt Murray, who was chief of staff for previous CN Labor lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes, still holds the position and is on extended leave until February.
Barely a week into the new term, Cr Kerridge was stripped of powers afforded to Cr Nelmes, including control over the number of staff who work in the lord mayor's office and its structure.
Cr Kerridge had previously put Mr Piper up for the role because he said the pair shared values of transparency, respect and accountability.
A CN spokeswoman said Cr Kerridge requested two people be appointed to share the chief of staff role while the incumbent was on long service leave.
"Those people are former mayor of Lake Macquarie Kay Fraser and a member of the lord mayor's recent campaign team Andrew Piper," she said.
"The lord mayor has stated that Kay Fraser would work with him for 10 days only to assist him to build his knowledge of the mayoral role, which the CEO considered a reasonable request."
The council spokeswoman said Ms Fraser was interviewed for the role along with two reference checks and had started on a casual basis.
The council did not answer questions from the Herald about whether Mr Piper would be hired in another capacity.
"No decision has been made on the lord mayor's request that Mr Piper be employed with the City of Newcastle," she said.
"Additional training and staffing have been internally provided to the lord mayor during the past two weeks to assist him as he becomes more comfortable in the role.
"We are able to continue this assistance for the remainder of the year until the incumbent returns from his leave."
Mr Piper resigned from the Labor party after it dumped an investigation into bullying allegations brought by six Newcastle members.
The bullying controversy includes untested allegations against Cr Adamczyk and Wallsend branch president David Norris.
Cr Kerridge is entitled to administrative support as the lord mayor, but the Herald understands those staff are not the lord mayor's 'personal staff' and are recruited following standard CN policies, reporting through executive management to Mr Bath.
