Chas Hopkins

Charles 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 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]

He contested the 2019 Australian federal election for Clive Palmer's United Australia Party.[20]

References
  1. Peace, Bronwyn (19 March 2003). "Hopkins joins race for mayor". The West Australian.
  2. "Gen Y rises to dismiss apathy slur". The West Australian. 29 September 2013. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  3. "Former Lord Mayor joins race". Western Suburbs Weekly. 15 September 2009. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. 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; 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. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  10. "Hopkins gets nod for Cowan". The West Australian. 13 April 2010.
  11. Balogh, Stefanie; 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. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  20. "Chas Hopkins". United Australia Party. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
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