Robe District Council Deputy Mayor Nick Brown has ruled out returning to the council’s paid workforce for the foreseeable future.

Councillor Brown is a former Robe District Council deputy chief executive but nowadays works for the Kingston District Council.

Cr Brown obtained the consent of the May monthly council meeting to make a personal statement about his employment intentions.

As a coincidence, Cr Brown had been chairing the meeting in the absence of Mayor Lisa Ruffell.

A Robe businessman had earlier written to Mayor Ruffell asking for Cr Brown to state at the May council meeting whether he intended to apply for a job at the Robe District Council within the current term which expired in November 2026.

After consulting with the acting council chief executive, Mayor Ruffell wrote back to the businessman and the six Robe councillors and said his request was outside the Local Government Act and would not be included in the agenda.

Nevertheless, Cr Brown decided to state his intentions although he was under no obligation to do so.

“I would like to respond to his question,” Cr Brown said.

“I have no intention of applying for any positions at the Robe District Council as they become vacant in the term of this elected council.

“I ask council that my personal statement be included in the minutes and that [the businessman] be provided with a copy of the minutes.”

Cr Brown’s statement was included in the minutes following a successful motion moved by Cr David Laurie and seconded by Cr Ned Wright.

Cr Brown has lived in Robe since 2014 apart from a brief period in Alice Springs undertaking the role of Director Council Services for the Central Desert Regional Council.

Cr Brown started his working career with Westpac Bank and worked in a number of regional/rural communities in both SA and NT.

In February 2000 he joined Tatiara District Council and his local government career has continued ever since.