Hard rubbish, animals,
GEELONG VOTES KARDINIA Ward covers most of the municipality south of the Barwon River. Two of the area’s former councillors, Ron Nelson and Bruce Harwood, return for a tilt at the expanded ward, which will be represented by three councillors. Voter ball
RON Nelson represented Deakin Ward until the council was sacked last year. He is a member of the Liberal Party and stood for the state electorate of Bellarine at the 2014 state election. Mr Nelson is a proponent for hard rubbish collection, tip vouchers and moving the Geelong Saleyards operations to the Geelong Showgrounds. “I will fight for council to deliver core responsibilities: free hard rubbish collection and tip vouchers; fixing roads and potholes; making our community safer; and improving our sporting clubs and community facilities — the heartbeat of our neighbourhoods. Recently I led the fight to save Highton Library and promise to keep our local libraries open. “I have a long history of successfully advocating for fellow residents and local businesses, and I am currently working for people with disabilities. I am proud to support many local sporting clubs and many local charities. In the last year, I am the only candidate who has rallied and advocated for the community regarding the administrators’ decisions on library closures, questionable budget reporting, planning decisions and drainage protection measures.”
DOUG MANN
DOUG Mann is a performing arts teacher and ran for mayor at the 2013 mayoral by-election to replace Keith Fagg, ultimately losing to Darryn Lyons. He also ran for the state electorate of Geelong at the 2014 state election as an independent candidate. He has joined an unofficial ticket of candidates who support the Geelong council’s 30-year Clever and Creative Vision. “The Clever and Creative Future policy is the most consultative document ever produced in Geelong. I support it as a blueprint for our future and thousands of Geelong people agree. It is a plan for a city that works for people. A prosperous, smart, vibrant place where all that is great about the region can thrive around a city that pulses with life: arts, culture, food, natural beauty. A place that will attract the brightest and best to live here. A responsibly led and informed community can do this. It’s already happening elsewhere, so why not Geelong? There are prerequisites, of course. First, we must reject the old Geelong where division along political lines brought paralysis and worse. Next we ensure that the people continue to have their say, council is accessible and decisionmaking well informed.”
PAT MURNANE
A FORMER long-serving Bendigo Bank manager, Pat Murnane is a first-time candidate who is standing as an independent. He hopes to combine his business nous, grassroots community contacts and his love of Geelong if elected. “I have lived in the Kardinia Ward for the past 40 years with my wife, Marilyn, raising four children all of whom also live in the Geelong area with their families. Given I am an independent candidate with no political ambitions or affiliations, I will enjoy the freedom to focus solely on creating positive outcomes for the residents of the Kardinia Ward and the Geelong region. My vision for the council is a dedicated group of professionals committed and working as a team to win the respect and support of the community through hard work and informed decision-making. I have built my personal and professional reputation on community engagement. Over the past 20 years I have established 11 community companies in the Geelong region, who are financially contributing to hundreds of community projects. In 2016 I was awarded the Committee for Geelong Leadership Award for outstanding leadership in the Geelong community.”