Ice-fight cop for council
Tony Francis to run in Borough election
LONG-SERVING police officer Tony Francis has confirmed he will stand for Borough of Queenscliffe council at the October election.
The 46-year-old Point Lonsdale resident was named by the Geelong Advertiser as one of the most influential people of 2015.
As lead project officer of the community initiative, Our Town’s Ice Fight, the father of three has fronted the campaign for more drug rehabilitation beds and ice education across the region.
From co-ordinating and speaking at forums designed to raise awareness of the harms of ice, to supporting the families of addicts, Senior Sergeant Francis has worked to break the cycle of ice use.
The Chamber of Commerce president, who plans to run as an independent, said he sees the role of a councillor as an- other way for him to serve the community.
“Ultimately you represent community and it’s about driving the best outcomes for them,” he said. “My key thing will be listening and driving community platforms to make sure that council is in line with what the community want.”
Owner of popular Queenscliff cafe Harry’s Kiosk, Mr Francis said small business and tourism would also be a focus.
“It’s about driving business opportunities and making it a place for businesses to come and invest and do well,” he said.
Asked if he was concerned about the “restrictive” conflict of interest laws that former councillor Greg Jones claimed drove him to resign after less than two months on the job, Mr Francis said he wasn’t.
The former Golden Plains Shire councillor said he was hoping to contribute to “an open and transparent council”.
“It’s about making a decision ... and (having) the knowledge that you can’t please everyone but being really clear on your decision-making so people understand how that decision came about,” Mr Francis said. “And it’s about listening and engaging with community to ensure they are informed and their expectations are met.”
Earlier this month the bor- ough determined chief executive officer Lenny Jenner had “no case to answer” following an investigation into claims of bullying and harassment but said “all information related to the matter, other than the resolution itself, will remain confidential”.
Last week a marked council car was caught parked in a car park for the disabled without displaying a permit but Mr Jenner refused to reveal what sanction, if any, was imposed on the staff member in question.