Councillors and council staff witnessed former Gilmore MP, Shoalhaven mayor and current councillor Jo Gash unleashing on her ally, Shoalhaven deputy mayor Patricia White, at a council meeting last week.

According to a councillor, during the council meeting, after a vote on committee delegates, Cr Gash told Cr White, “I thought you were my mate, Patricia, I won’t forget this.”

At the end of the meeting, when the webcast stopped, Cr Gash reportedly called Cr White, “All the names under the sun, and said it was the end of Team Gash.”

Team Gash’s third member, Councillor John Wells, was not present during the final outburst – he left council chambers when the official meeting closed. 

It is understood Cr Gash was disappointed Cr White had voted to elect Councillor Mark Kitchener into a committee role Cr Gash wanted, triggering the “major dummy-spit”.

Cr Gash admitted it was an intense end to a long night.

“Sure, things got heated, something that was going to happen didn’t happen,” she said.

However this was not an isolated incident. It was the most recent blow-up in what has been a tumultuous month for Cr Gash and a number of her current and former political allies.

All was well in the Team Gash camp until Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis “dropped a bombshell” at federal parliament on September 17.

Under parliamentary privilege, Mrs Sudmalis bowed out of federal politics, levelling bullying accusations at Kiama MP Gareth Ward, Shoalhaven Councillor Andrew Guile and South Coast Register editor John Hanscombe. Mrs Sudmalis also mentioned that factional opponents, Liberal Party members Paul Ell and Adam Straney, who had both expressed interest in nominating for preselection earlier in the year, are friends of Mr Ward’s.

A Shoalhaven councillor told the Register Mrs Sudmalis’ speech to parliament created “A sharp difference in views” between Crs White and Gash.

“I know Cr White was very upset with the comments Ann Sudmalis made in parliament,” the councillor said.

“Cr White believed Mrs Sudmalis should never have roped Shoalhaven Council and Shellharbour Council into it. She believed a number of issues should not have been listed as issues affecting Ann Sudmalis herself, that they were local battles.”

It is understood Cr White sided with local media, local councillors, and local Liberal Party members – people subject to Mrs Sudmalis’ scorn.

It is understood Cr Gash, known as Mrs Sudmalis’ most trusted political adviser, sided with the exiting Member for Gilmore.

Cr Gash brushed aside commentary on her ongoing stoush with Cr White as “scuttlebutt and pure speculation”.

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A number of Shoalhaven Councillors told the Register Cr Gash intends on running for the position of Shoalhaven mayor in the next council election.

Cr Gash said she had not made any plans.

“Oh for goodness’ sake, I could be six foot under by then,” she said.

“Who knows who’s running? I certainly wouldn’t know if I’m running (for mayor).”

Councillors also told the Register Cr Gash will place the outgoing Gilmore MP in the number one position on her new-look Ward Two Team Gash ticket.

Cr Gash vehemently denied she was joining forces with Mrs Sudmalis.

“That’s a furphy,” she said.

“God, we’d have to be mad to be doing that. I don’t know what Ann’s doing, she’s still in government. This is all scuttlebutt, people are trying to draw things out that are untrue.”

The Register contacted Mrs Sudmalis and her media team for comment on Wednesday afternoon, but they could not be reached.

A number of councillors suggested Cr White may join the Shoalhaven Independents’ voting bloc, comprising Crs Greg Watson, Mitchell Pakes, Bob Proudfoot, Kitchener and Guile.

Though she has been aligned with Crs Gash and Wells, Cr White’s voting record indicates she has sided with Greens and Independents on a number of matters in the past.

It is understood she intends on going it alone.

It is understood the split has cast doubt over the longevity of Cr Wells’ political future – his time on Shoalhaven Council may come to an end at the next election in 2020.

It is understood Cr Wells will not run for another term of council on Cr Gash’s ticket.

In the meantime, a councillor told the Register Cr Wells would join the Shoalhaven Independents’ voting bloc.

Cr Wells has identified as a commercial and economical progressive and social conservative, and many of his values align with the values of the Shoalhaven Independents.

It is understood Cr Wells has a friendly relationship with members of the Shoalhaven Independents, and he intends on continuing to liaise with all relevant councillors and council staff on council matters.