Mount Alexander will see uncontested elections for two wards in October’s local government elections while Macedon Ranges has a strong field of prospective councillors across all wards.
There will be no public vote for Mount Alexander’s Coliban and Calder Wards as returning councillors Christine Henderson and Anthony Cordy have secured single vacancies, respectively, unchallenged.
A low number of candidates for single vacancy wards is not unusual for Mount Alexander. While Coliban Ward is down two nominations from 2016, Loddon River Ward has attracted three, up two from 2016. Tarrengower Ward has fielded two candidates, and Calder Ward just one, for two consecutive voting years.
Interest has increased in three vacancy Castlemaine Ward with 11 candidates this year compared to eight in 2016.
The Victorian Electoral Commission closed nominations last Tuesday and drew ballots electronically, minus a public gallery amid coronavirus restrictions. An independent observer was in attendance at all ballot draws across the state.
Macedon Ranges
Macedon Ranges has a healthy field of councillors across all three of its three vacancy wards but a noticeable drop in contenders for the East.
The number of candidates for East Ward almost halved with just six applying this year compared to 11 in the 2016 election.
South and West Ward candidates remained steady: seven compared to eight and eight for both periods, respectively.
In the South Ward, a flood of candidates nominated close to the cut-off period, creating an early warped perception of the field.
South is the only ward where no current councillor seeks re-election following Cr Helen Radnedge’s last-minute decision not to stand. Both Cr Mandi Mees and Cr Andrew Twaits announced last month they would not seek a second term.
The open field has seen both fresh faces and former councillors emerge for the three vacancies.
Planning for growth and development is one of the biggest issues across all three Macedon Ranges wards.
Hepburn’s Coliban Ward, covering the Trentham area, has three candidates competing for one vacancy.
The VEC assures it is well prepared for the 2020 local council elections and has released a COVIDSafe election plan that outlines the steps to deliver a safe election.
Local government elections will take place on October 24 by postal vote.
WHO IS STANDING?
Macedon Ranges
East Ward (three vacancies): Deborah Alford-Kerr, Geoff Neil, Bill West, Annette Death, Henry Bleeck and Natasha Gayfer.
South Ward (three vacancies): Rob Guthrie, J. S. Amenta, Dominic Bonanno, Anne Moore, Adrian Gauci, Graham Hackett and Christine Walker.
West Ward (three vacancies): Mark Ridgeway, Hayden Walsh, Jennifer Anderson, Janet Pearce, Wes Turner, Brian Wilson, Diana Abruzzi and Lenka Thompson.
Mount Alexander
Calder Ward (one vacancy): Anthony Cordy.
Castlemaine Ward (three vacancies): Gary McClure, Max Lesser, Keppel Cassidy, Bill Maltby, Toby Heydon, Stacey Raselli, Susan Mayfair, Michael Johnston, Rosie Annear, Hans Paas and Glenn Sutherland.
Coliban Ward (one vacancy): Christine Henderson.
Loddon River Ward (one vacancy): Damien Kingsbury, Hilton Hazeltine and Matthew Driscoll.
Tarrengower Ward (one vacancy): Genine McHugh and Stephen Gardner.
Hepburn
Coliban Ward (one vacancy): Brian Hood, Licia Kokocinski and Ethan Brown.
NOTE: Candidates are listed in order of ballot paper appearance.
TWO RETURNED UNOPPOSED
Two Mount Alexander Shire councillors have been returned unopposed as a result of uncontested elections.
Mayor Christine Henderson was the only candidate to stand in Coliban Ward and incumbent councillor Tony Cordy was the only nominee in the Calder Ward.
Mount Alexander Shire Council election manager Dean Curtis said it was not an unusual occurrence.
In fact, Cr Cordy and fellow Loddon River Ward councillor John Nieman took their posts after uncontested elections four years ago.
Cr Henderson said it was quite exciting and she was honoured to represent council for a fourth term.
“The last three times I ran the vacancy was contested so this is a bit different for me,” she said.
“I feel pleased that no-one was that dissatisfied with the job I’ve being doing that they felt the urge to run against me,” Cr Henderson said.
“It’s a luxurious position to be in but it is a good chance to stop and take stock and think about what the issues are that are important to me and to listen to what issues are important to the wider community moving forward,” she said.
Cr Henderson said they had some big projects in the pipeline and some big issues to consider such as the future of home care and their capital works program in a decreasing financial environment.
Cr Henderson said she believed it will be good for council and council staff to have some continuity and experience moving forward and she looked forward to seeing who joined the duo at the table.
“It’s exciting. We have a great team and the new council will have a high functioning organisation to work with,” she said.
Cr Henderson said staff-led community consultation was a feature in the new Local Government Act and this would continue to be key.
Cr Tony Cordy said he felt very fortunate to have the opportunity to continue his role as a councillor for a second term.
“I feel very privileged to represent the community where I was born and grew up and I look forward to continuing to work with our council.
“We have a great team of staff and I look forward to continuing to work with them,” he said.
Cr Cordy said there were a number of projects he would like to see through to completion and he was pleased to have that opportunity.
The Calder Ward councillor said it was somewhat surreal to be standing on the sidelines for a second time and watching fellow candidates campaign.
“I think we had a really diverse range of people on council last time and that really worked and I think we will have that again. It’s good to have that diversity and work together to come to good decisions for the community,” he said.
