February 21 2011: Knives are out for Eddy Sarroff

February 21 2011
Knives are out for Eddy Sarroff
Gold Coast Bulletin
by Matthew Killoran

THE knives are out for council finance boss Eddy Sarroff.

It is understood there will be a motion at today's council meeting to ask the embattled councillor to step down as chair of his committee.

The motion comes after Cr Sarroff's calls for the release of estimated council profits from water retailer Allconnex Water and for calling Mayor Ron Clarke a liar on the radio.

There have been a series of reprimands and demotions for the councillor in the past six months.

Cr Sarroff said he will not stand down if asked today.

"If they ask me to step down because I put out information in the public interest, of course I'm not going to do it," he said.

"If they ask me to step down for speaking out on forecasts put out by Allconnex and our own administration, of course I'm not going to do it."

He said he "did not recall" the exact words he used in the radio interview.

Several councillors have privately expressed growing frustration with they say is Cr Sarroff's grandstanding in the public arena and causing disruption at the council.

Cr Ted Shepherd said his colleague's behaviour had been disgraceful and self-serving.

"This is Eddy protecting the State Government. It's grandstanding to protect his Labor mates," he said referring to Cr Sarroff's former membership with the ALP.