Eddy Sarkis

Eddy Sarkis is a councillor representing the East Ward of Holroyd City Council.

He is well known for his campaign as a Liberal candidate for the state seat of Granville against Labor's David Borger [ [http://www.pollbludger.com/nsw2007/granville.htm The Poll Bludger - Australian State and Federal Elections ] ] where he achieved one of the largest swings in the state.

Early life and career

Eddy is the son of Lebanese Christian parents who migrated to Australia. He attended Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary school and Newman Secondary College (now St.Paul's) in Greystanes. He then went on to tertiary studies at Granville and Ultimo TAFE. [Eddy Sarkis candidate brochure]

Before entering council he ran his own small business - "Reddy Floors" a carpet shop in Merrylands [Eddy Sarkis candidate brochure (council election brochure)] and a building services company. Eddy was a building maintenance manager before the 2007 state election

Community activity

Eddy has been elected deputy Mayor of Holroyd City Council twice [ [http://www.holroyd.nsw.gov.au/your_council/mayor_and_councillors/past_deputy_mayors Past Deputy Mayors - Holroyd City Council ] ] . He currently serves as a councillor representing the East Ward.

Before entering council Eddy was involved in a number community groups. He served as Vice President of the Australian Lebanese Welfare Group [http://www.alwg.org.au/main.htm] and was on the committee of the Damour Charitable association.

Granville Campaign 2007

Eddy began his bid for the state seat of Granville in 2006 after the sitting Labor MP Kim Yeadon announced he would retire [ [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/nsw/2007/guide/departingmps.htm 2007 New South Wales Election. Retiring MPs. Antony Green Election Guide. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) ] ] from parliament at the upcoming state election.

Granville- a seat traditionally held by Labor [www.pollbludger.com/nsw2007/granville.htm] was viewed by many as an impossible win for a Liberal candidate. Eddy targeted Labor's neglect of the community and focussed on the idea that Labor was taking their votes for granted when it comes to local issues like the cuts to Cumberland Line train services, graffiti and the closure of the Safety House program across New South Wales.

When David Borger was imposed by head office as the Labor candidate for Granville it prompted an outrage amongst the rank and file party members which wound up with long-serving Labor councillor and former Lord Mayor of Parramatta Paul Garrard resigning his membership of the Australian Labor Party to contest the seat as an independent.

Although Labor retained the seat of Granville, they suffered a swing of 9.1% to the Liberal candidate - one of the largest swings in the state. Labor was reduced to preferences for the first time in history and were elected off the back of preference flows from Greens candidate Pauline Tyrell.

References