It’s all about public trust, says Geelong’s first Green councillor
GEELONG’S new-look council will be a slightly deeper shade of green.
The city’s first Greens councillor, Sarah Mansfield, is one of Brownbill Ward’s three new councillors, standing alongside returning sacked councillors Eddy Kontelj and Peter Murrihy.
Ms Mansfield attracted about 18 per cent of the first preference vote, second only to the 24.75 per cent of Mr Kontelj.
“It’s really exciting,” Ms Mansfield said yesterday.
“It’s great to have a progressive voice on council.
“It’s a big moment for our party and really highlights the amazing work our team put in, going from door to door every weekend explaining what our party stands for.”
The Greens candidate ran in the federal election in 2016 for the seat of Corio, attracting about 12 per cent of first preferences. She won a 4.5 per cent swing for her party.
Ms Mansfield said that rebuilding public trust in the council would be a major priority after the previous council was sacked.
“We campaigned really strongly on improving transparency and community en- gagement, and I’m really keen to look at processes at the very least that I can set up as a councillor to ensure the community has access and can raise issues with me,” she said.
“The first priority is getting a functional council team going.”
Ms Mansfield’s election comes after Greens senator Janet Rice faced questions over her use of a taxpayer-funded printing budget to produce and distribute letters informing Geelong council election voters they could trust Ms Mansfield.
Returning former councillor Peter Murrihy wasted no time signalling his intent to run for the city’s top job, declaring he planned to run for mayor.
“Yes, I intend to throw my hat into the ring,” the Newtown local and former police prosecutor said yesterday. “I want to do that so we’ll see how that plays out.”
Council’s leadership positions will be decided by an internal vote on Tuesday, November 14.
Mr Murrihy said he was relieved to return to the council.
“I’ve got every faith and confidence that we’ll work together and be a strong united council,” Mr Murrihy said. “We’ll do our best, I’m sure.” The Independent candidate also signalled his hope that party politics would be kept out of the council’s decision-making processes.
Mr Murrihy was only on the previous Geelong council for a short term, after winning a byelection in 2015, before the council’s 2016 sacking.
Prominent businessman Eddy Kontelj is the third Brownbill councillor-elect, returning after being a member of the sensationally-sacked council.
Mr Kontelj said picking the right leadership and ensuring councillors worked as a team would help avoid a repeat performance of the last council.
“I’m obviously thrilled with the result,” Mr Kontelj said. “I think the fact is that this council has some special needs, because we haven’t had a council or elected representatives in council for 18 months or so.
“So there’s no doubt that the community is looking forward to having elected representatives back.”