Chas Hopkins

Charles (Chas) Hopkins is an Australian politician and businessman. He was the Lord Mayor of Perth from 1988 to 1991.[1]

Hopkins was elected to the City of Perth council in 1975 at the age of 26, making him the youngest Perth councillor ever elected.[2] He served as Deputy Lord Mayor from 1980 to 1981.[3] Hopkins was elected Lord Mayor in 1988, defeating two-term incumbent Mick Michael, and also becoming the youngest Lord Mayor.[4] He ran for re-election in 1991, but was defeated by former Liberal Senator Reg Withers.[5]

Hopkins again ran for Lord Mayor in 2003, his first bid for council since his 1991 loss, but was defeated by incumbent mayor Peter Nattrass.[6][7] He contested councillor positions for the City of Perth at both the 2009 and 2011 elections, but was unsuccessful on both occasions.[8][9] Hopkins was the Labor candidate for the federal seat of Cowan at the 2010 election, a late replacement after initial candidate and then Wanneroo mayor Jon Kelly resigned from the race.[10] He attracted attention during the campaign for criticising the Labor government's mining tax as too tough on the resources sector, and promised to lobby for changes.[11] He was defeated by incumbent Liberal MP Luke Simpkins.[12]

Hopkins is a long-time office furniture and design retailer outside of politics, and is a former auctioneer.[13][14] He has also been involved with a number of proposed developments, including an unsuccessful attempt to purchase Raine Square in 2002, a proposed resort in Rockingham, and a housing estate in Sydney.[15][16][17] He is the uncle of state Labor MP and former Police Minister Michelle Roberts.[18] Hopkins was made a "Freeman of the City [of Perth]" in 2008.[19]

References

  1. ↑ Peace, Bronwyn (19 March 2003). "Hopkins joins race for mayor". The West Australian.
  2. ↑ Zaw, Yolanda (29 September 2013). "Gen Y rises to dismiss apathy slur". The West Australian. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Former Lord Mayor joins race". Western Suburbs Weekly. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  4. ↑ Aisbett, Norman (5 April 2003). "Who'd want to be Mayor?: The outsiders". The West Australian.
  5. ↑ Waddacor, Gill (6 May 1991). "Withers is Perth's new Lord Mayor". The Age.
  6. ↑ Peace, Bronwyn (19 March 2003). "Hopkins joins race for mayor". The West Australian.
  7. ↑ Butler, Bruce and Hellard, Peta (4 May 2003). "He's back: Nattrass wins Mayor race". The Sunday Times.
  8. ↑ Malongo, Jackline (19 October 2009). "New mayors for Freo, Bayswater". WA Business News.
  9. ↑ "2011 Ordinary Election Perth Results". Western Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  10. ↑ "Hopkins gets nod for Cowan". The West Australian. 13 April 2010.
  11. ↑ Balogh, Stefanie and Chalmers, Emma (27 May 2010). "Miners paying their way on tax: Abbott". The Courier-Mail.
  12. ↑ Towie, Narelle (22 August 2010). "Local issues key to victory". The Sunday Times.
  13. ↑ Peace, Bronwyn (19 March 2003). "Hopkins joins race for mayor". The West Australian.
  14. ↑ Kennedy, Elicia (5 April 2003). "Race on to run city". The West Australian.
  15. ↑ Peacock, Sue (29 May 2002). "Group buys Raine Square". The West Australian.
  16. ↑ Low, Catie (14 April 2004). "Plug pulled on Raine Square plan". The West Australian.
  17. ↑ "Estate tops $1b". Macarthur Chronicle. 3 February 2009.
  18. ↑ Peace, Bronwyn (19 March 2003). "Hopkins joins race for mayor". The West Australian.
  19. ↑ "Former Lord Mayor joins race". Western Suburbs Weekly. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
Civic offices
Preceded by
Mick Michael		 Lord Mayor of Perth
1988–1991 		Succeeded by
Reg Withers