Chris Baker (politician)

{{Short description|Australian politician (1958–2023)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Chris Baker

| honorific-suffix = MLA

| image =

| assembly = Western Australian Legislative

| constituency_AM = Joondalup

| term_start = 14 December 1996

| term_end = 10 February 2001

| predecessor = New seat

| successor = Tony O'Gorman

| majority =

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1958|7|9}}

| birth_place = Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2023|8|4|1958|7|9}}

| death_place = Perth, Western Australia, Australia

| spouse = Sarah Jane Rogers

| children = 1 son and 1 daughter

| alma_mater = University of Queensland{{br}}Queensland University of Technology

| party = Liberal Party

}}

Christopher John Baker (9 July 1958 – 4 August 2023) was an Australian solicitor and politician who was a member of the Liberal Party, a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly (1996–2001), and City of Joondalup councillor (2001–2004). He was a City of Wanneroo Councillor until his death in 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-04 |title=North ward councillor Chris Baker has died |url=https://www.yanchepnewsonline.com.au/north-ward-councillor-chris-baker-has-died/?amp |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=Yanchep News Online |language=en}}

Baker was born in Brisbane and moved to Western Australia in 1989. Prior to entering parliament as the member for the newly created seat of Joondalup, he was a barrister, solicitor and proprietor of a law firm. Baker also served as a Councillor in the Town of Port Hedland from 1994–1996.

In parliament, he was involved in a number of committees, including the Public Accounts Committee. He lost the seat at the February 2001 state election to his Labor rival, Tony O'Gorman.{{cite web |title=Mr Christopher (Chris) John Baker |url=https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/MPHistoricalData.nsf/(Lookup)/F82D5BE810DCFEEA482577E50028A50C?OpenDocument |website=Parliament of Western Australia |access-date=4 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326032036/https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/MPHistoricalData.nsf/(Lookup)/F82D5BE810DCFEEA482577E50028A50C?OpenDocument |archive-date=26 March 2021}}

On 5 May 2001, Baker was elected as councillor for the Marina ward of Joondalup with an overwhelming majority of votes.{{cite web |url=http://www.waec.wa.gov.au/local/biennials/2001/Joondalup.htm |title=Joondalup Results |website=www.waec.wa.gov.au |access-date=27 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050718075744/https://www.waec.wa.gov.au/local/biennials/2001/Joondalup.htmv |archive-date=18 July 2005 |url-status=dead}} He was one of a group of councillors who supported the controversial CEO, Denis Smith, and was criticised by the inquiry into the City of Joondalup.{{cite web |last1=McIntyre |first1=Greg |title=Conclusions: Inquiry into the City of Joondalup |url=https://www.joondalup.wa.gov.au/files/councilmeetings/2005/Attach19min111005.pdf |access-date=1 August 2024}}

Baker's career as a solicitor has involved practicing law in Darwin, Katherine and Esperance in the late 1980s, and later as proprietor of law firm Chris Baker and Associates. Baker is a Notary Public from the Supreme Court of WA.

On 19 October 2019, Baker was elected as a Councillor at the City of Wanneroo for the North Coast Ward, defeating incumbent Russell Driver by 5.82%, or 1,131 votes, and secured 3.25% more votes than incumbent Natalie Sangalli, who was re-elected to the second vacant position.{{cite web | url=https://www.elections.wa.gov.au/elections/local/election#/156FE5B8-E78B-4A62-BBA7-A31896E9103E/Wanneroo | title=Local Government Elections | Western Australian Electoral Commission }}