He wanted to rise "to the very top spot" but it seems Salim Mehajer's career in politics is now likely to end as he faces a ban from civic office.
The Auburn deputy mayor who once claimed he had nothing to hide was on Friday suspended for four months for failing to declare all of his financial interests.
With his embattled Sydney council a week away from being suspended amid a public inquiry into allegations of councillors misusing their positions, the property developer's dreams of one day becoming prime minister appear increasingly out of reach.
Auburn City Council is also one of several NSW councils facing amalgamation later this year.
The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Friday found Mr Mehajer breached pecuniary interest laws on three separate occasions between November 2012 and December 2013.
The tribunal heard Mr Mehajer was present at three council meetings which discussed a proposal to increase the height and floor space for a commercial building his company owned at 3 Mary Street in Auburn.
Mr Mehajer, 29, voted in favour of the proposal, which added up to $1 million to the property's value.
"The breaches were extremely serious as the pecuniary interest was high," tribunal principal member David Patten said.
He said the tribunal had previously found Mr Mehajer had committed other financial disclosure breaches about the same time.
"For that reason I treat these breaches as no more than another demonstration of the hubris which Mr Mehajer exhibited upon entering his role as a councillor," Mr Patten said.
In handing down his ruling, Mr Patten accepted the councillor did not "intentionally commit breaches" of the Local Government Act and a disqualification was not required.
But he added there should be a significant sanction "to make clear to Mr Mehajer and other persons who offer themselves for, or are elected to, public office in Local Government, that they have statutory obligations which include obligations to act honestly and transparently in the performance of their responsibilities".
"These obligations are not to be undertaken casually or lightly," he said.
Mr Mehajer told the tribunal he did not properly understand his disclosure requirements and regretted not taking more care.
In a statement to AAP, the flamboyant councillor said he would appeal the tribunal decision.
"The only persons affected by this suspension are the community," he said.
"An appeal and stay will be underway for the sake of my constituents."
Local Government Minister Paul Toole said the upcoming public inquiry into Auburn City Council would not be affected by the tribunal's decision.
"Nor is the 14-day period the council has to present why it should not be suspended," he said in a statement.
"I expect all councillors to act with the highest integrity in their civic duties and in the interest of ratepayers," he said.
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