WHO’S CHASING YOUR VOTE?
A POLITICALLY diverse field of 13 candidates will contest the Bellarine ward election.
There are several progressive and conservative independents, endorsed Greens and Animal Justice Party representatives as well as candidates affiliated with both the major political parties.
The majority of them are new to the political scene, with only former Coryule ward councillor Lindsay Ellis and John van Beveren (Central Goldfields) having served on a council.
But two-time mayoral candidate Stephanie Asher, Trent Sullivan (Kildare, 2015), Stephen McGain (Queenscliff) and Ann Brackley (Cheetham, 2012) have all run election campaigns.
The sprawling area takes in the former wards of Beangala (Jan Farrell), Cheetham (Rod Macdonald) and Coryule, with slices of Austin and Buckley wards.
It includes Barwon Heads, Clifton Springs, Connewarre, Drysdale, Indented Head, Leopold, Mannerim, Moolap, Ocean Grove, Point Lonsdale, Portarlington, St Leonards and Wallington.
With a range of working class, middle class, sea-changers, retirees and upper class residents spread across the ward, the election result is difficult to predict.
Three councillors will be elected to represent the ward.
Voter ballot packs have been mailed out, with the Victorian Electoral Commission requiring them to be returned by October 27.