IT’S been 24 hours of upheaval for the two Greens members of Coffs Harbour City Council.

Rodney Degens yesterday announced his resignation from the party to remain on council, but as an independent.

Mark Graham has decided to run for mayor at the September 2012 local government elections.

Cr Degens said the main reason for his decision was “internal conflict” with Cr Graham.

“We have different approaches to the way we take things. We are 95% on the same page with what we want to achieve, though,” Cr Degens said.

“This is the easiest way for me to work with the Greens free from the constraints of their policy framework.

“While my sympathies are essentially with the environment and other issues of sustainability, I have experienced various differences on policy on some major issues and I feel this is the best outcome.

“I believe that the freedom needed to be able to examine each local government issue on its own

merits outside of a political framework is the minimum in order to get the job done.

“I will continue to work towards the planning and investigation of local rail, the building up of the local economy and raising the profile of this city.”

Cr Degens, who has been a member of the Greens since 2005, said the Greens “are really good people and I didn’t take up membership lightly.”

Cr Graham thanked Cr Degens for his contribution to the Greens in Coffs Harbour and wished him well as an independent.

“I look forward to continuing to work with him for an environmentally sustainable and socially just city,” Cr Graham said.

“Obviously Rodney has a lot of work to do that he is comfortable in doing as an independent and we wish him well.”

Cr Graham said he would run for mayor next year, just like he did back in 2008, “because the city needs a new leadership culture”.

“The community is crying out for a new leadership culture.”