2004 Sydney City Council election

In 2002, parts of the City of South Sydney and Leichhardt were proposed to be merged with the City of Sydney. In 2003, Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay, Kings Cross, Darlinghurst, Chippendale, Ultimo and parts of Rushcutters Bay, Camperdown and Darlington were transferred from South Sydney to the City of Sydney. As the financial viability of the residual City of South Sydney was under threat as a result, the City of Sydney and the City of South Sydney were combined by proclamation on 6 February 2004.^[5] The 2003 merger was perceived as an attempt to bring more working class Labor Party voters into the City of Sydney.^[6][7]

A total of 67 candidates stood for election, including 14 lord mayoral candidates.^[8]

Lord mayoral candidates are listed in the order they appeared on the ballot:^[9]

On 24 February 2004, independent MP Clover Moore announced she would run for lord mayor, labelling the council's sacking a "cynical grab for power." Despite her ideological differences with Turnbull, she also sharply denounced the sacking of a democratically elected mayor.^[18]

Moore formed the Clover Moore Independent team, which included six other candidates.^[19]

Former federal MP Michael Lee contested as Labor's lord mayoral candidate. He officially announced his candidacy on 3 March 2004.^[20]

Former South Sydney councillor Shayne Mallard contested the election as the first-ever endorsed Liberal Party lord mayoral candidate.^[21]

The Greens contested the lord mayoralty for the first time, with Chris Harris as their candidate.^[22] The Australian Democrats and Socialist Alliance both endorsed candidates.^[23][24]

Incumbent Sydney councillor Dixie Coulton, a former Living Sydney and Sydney Independents member, was one of six independent candidates.^[25][26]