The French Mayor
The expatriate French Mayor of Glamorgan Spring Bay Municipality, Cr Bertrand Cadart, romped home in the recent local governmemnt elections.
"We underestimated his popularity," one of his opponents said.
When first elected to Council in 2005, Cr Cadart soon exhibited his inherent bon homie when he said, at the first Council meeting of the new term in Bicheno:
"In France we do things a little differently to here in Tasmania."
Whereupon he advanced on the incumbent Mayor, Cr Howard Harris, saying: "I would like to welcome our Mayor and give 'im a big 'ug."
Whereupon the two men embraced before the public gallery of some 35 amused citizens.

The French Mayor's presence has made a palpable difference in the region.
He grabs the headlines and media attention wherever he goes, and his diary is full of appointments local and overseas. In his colourful jackets, his penchant for Beau Brummel cravats and amusing Franglais phrasing, the French Mayor has reaped a rich harvest of publicity for his tourism-dependent region and is now quite the most famous Mayor in Tasmania.
This page carries some of the Mayor's exploits and should reveal much of his character. He revels in his Frenchness, a personality trait not always appreciated by the more Anglophile of his constituents.
Love him or hate him, the French Mayor has brought some eclat and excitement to the Freycinet Maria Coast.