John Abi-Saab

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John Abi-Saab (1932-) was born in Lebanon.

He was elected to the Hastings Council on the Mid North Coast in 1965 and Strathfield Council in 2000. He resigned from Strathfield Council in 2005 after findings from a corruption enquiry resulted in Abi-Saab being charged with 13 offences including blackmail and conspiring with another witness to lie to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

In 1969 he was elected Deputy Shire President, and in 1970 was elected Shire President. He held this position for 10 years, making him the longest serving president in the history of the Hastings. John Abi-Saab was recognised with an award from the Queen for Service to the Community.

During this time John Abi-Saab was elected a board member of the Oxley County Council (Electricity) for a 3 year term. He was appointed a member of the North Coast Regional Development Board which extended from Newcastle to the Queensland border.

He initiated the creation of a separate region for the Mid North Coast, with headquarters in the Hastings; this is still in operation. In 1980, John was elected a member of the amalgamated Hastings Council, where he served his full term, resigning in 1983.

John presided over the early implementation of the Timbertown Tourist Project and Re-creation of the Sawmilling Village of early settlers of the Hastings of the 1880s. He was actively involved in all stages of the development until its completion and Official Opening by the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Arthur Roden Cutler.

In 1973, John Abi-Saab led a delegation of Wauchope Rotary Club and Citizens to Canisteo, Wauchope's Sister City in the United States, where he received the Sister City Award, in the Reader's Digest "People to People" program.

In 2000, Abi-Saab relocated to the Inner West Sydney suburb of Strathfield and was elected to Strathfield Council. In 2005, Abi-Saab resigned from Strathfield Council following a corruption enquiry. It was alleged that Abi-Saab was involved in an elaborate plot to unseat the Mayor of Strathfield. Abi-Saab has pleased guilty to 11 of the 13 charges but is yet to enter an plea on the charges of blackmail and conspiracy. The Inner West Courier of February 19 2008 reported that Abi-Saab has failed to appear in court to face charges for the second time pleading ill health. The matter will return to court on March 14.


[edit] References

Hills, Brendan, Inner West Courier p1, 19 February 2008 [www.innerwestcourier.com.au]

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