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Lavish deputy mayor urged to resign

A western Sydney council has voted six-votes-to-two to dump deputy mayor Salim Mehajer.

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Source: AAP


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Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer has been urged to resign from council following a string of damaging court cases.

But there's little hope the controversial figure will vacate the role.

"I am sure he will give it the same nark that he has given everything else," says Councillor Irene Simms.

In a meeting on Wednesday night, Auburn council voted six-to-two urging Mr Mehajer to step aside from his position.

He first made headlines in August for his show-stopping, lavish wedding in western Sydney, but has since come under the spotlight for multiple court cases including charges of intimidation for allegedly making threats against the father of a Lindt Cafe siege survivor.

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Even though Ms Simms doesn't expect Mr Mehajer to react to the vote, she says it will send a message to the local community that the council disapproves of his actions.

"He won't do anything," Ms Simms told AAP on Thursday.

"Finally we have enough people on this council saying what you (Mehajer) are doing is not acceptable."

The deputy mayor was not at Wednesday's meeting after spending the day in court addressing three separate court matters.

Ms Simms says Mr Mehajer has brought nothing "positive" to the council, and has ignored suggestions by the premier and the minister for local government to step down.

"Since the wedding, every single thing that has happened with him has been negative and it is damaging the reputation of the council and it is damaging the reputation of the local government."


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