Back in 2022, Dom Bonanno was the Liberal Party candidate in the state seat of Macedon, trying to unseat Labor’s Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas.
Fresh life was injected into the 2026 campaign with Bonanno — a Macedon Ranges Shire councillor for almost six years — announcing yesterday he was running as an Independent candidate.
He resigned as a paid-up member of the Liberal Party on Wednesday.
“Make Macedon Independent” is a catchcry likely to get much louder before election day.
Bonanno’s slogan is ‘Listening Locally, Acting Independently’.
Macedon is regarded by many as an ‘up for grabs’ seat with Labor’s Mary-Anne Thomas stepping down after 14 years.
In 2022, Bonanno — a South Gisborne resident — did not appear by some observers to get the full-on support being shown at present to try to get Liberal Kate Kendall over the line.
Labor’s runner is Riddells Creek resident and former MRSC mayor, Annette Death.
It is known that Bonanno would have liked to have a second go as the Liberal candidate this year.
Though he had no comment to make on the subject, sources said it was believed he was told he should ‘sit this one out’.
So now he will devote time and energy as an Independent, being fair dinkum about his candidacy and issues he intends to raise during the campaign.
In his media statement, he appeared to draw a parallel between his approach to taking leave as a councillor, and Kendall’s position in stepping down as mayor, but continuing as an active councillor while campaigning.
Bonanno said as a serving councillor, he took existing responsibilities to the community seriously and maintained a clear separation between his council duties and candidate activities.
He intends to seek council approval this week to take unpaid leave to contest the election.
Cr Kendall has also lodged a request to take unpaid leave as a councillor.
“I do not believe it would be appropriate for me to continue receiving a councillor allowance while devoting a significant amount of my time and attention to campaigning for state parliament,” Bonanno said.
“Residents are entitled to expect that public office, and the public money attached to it, are treated with respect.
“For me, this comes down to a simple principle — just because you can do something doesn’t necessarily mean you should.”
Bonanno said his decision to stand for the seat again had not been made lightly.
“It is a significant commitment, not only for me but for my family, and one we have discussed and considered carefully together. Ultimately, however, the decision to put myself forward is mine.”