Russell Goodway is a Welsh Labour Party councillor for Ely, Cardiff; and the former Lord Mayor of Cardiff and former CEO of Cardiff Chamber of Commerce.
First elected to serve the Ely, Cardiff ward for Labour on 4 May 1995,[1] Goodway became leader of the Labour Group on Cardiff Council following the May 1992 Local Elections. After being made mayor of the city,[2] it emerged that Goodway proposed in 2000 to become the highest paid local councillor in the United Kingdom, and possibly the highest paid politician, on a basic of £58,000 for a three day week,[3] before agreeing a pay-cut to around £34,000 in return for a review of allowances.[4]
Following the Labour Party's loss of control of Cardiff Council at the May 2004 Local Elections, Good way resigned as leader of the group,[5] adding that Welsh Assembly First Minister Rhodri Morgan wanted Goodway to be beaten by his independent opponent.[6]
Remaining an elected councillor for Ely, Goodway was subsequently elected CEO of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce in late 2004. In late 2007/early 2008, the chamber financially collapsed spectacularly following at overpaid training grant from ELWa of £500,000, which could not be repaid thanks to interest payments totalling £500,000 and other debts of a further £1million.[7] After all 35 staff were immediately made redundant,[8] it was subsequently liquidated.
Goodway subsequently insisted he would not seek the vacant leadership of the Labour group.[9]