Nominations close today
Nominations for Baw Baw Shire Council elections close at noon today.
Twelve candidates had nominated with the Victorian Electoral Commission late yesterday but more candidates are expected to nominate this morning.
Nine councillors will be elected, representing three new wards for the shire including central, east and west. Three councillors will be elected in each ward.
The Victorian Electoral Commission will co-ordinate the election, that will be by postal vote and closes on October 22.
Twelve people have already lodged their nominations for council.
The greatest interest so far has been in the east ward, where five candidates have formally nominated with the VEC.
The nominations include sitting councillor Peter Kostos of Darnum, Darren Wallace of Trafalgar, David Lyons of Willow Grove, Fred Boreham of Trafalgar and Darren Short of Seaview.
The east ward covers the largest geographical area of the three wards including Darnum, Trafalgar and Yarragon and all smaller towns north and south of the highway from Hallora to Thorpdale and Walhalla.
At the western end of the ward, there are four nominations including two existing councillors Tricia Jones and Debbie Brown.
Jessica O’Donnell of Drouin and Keith Cook of Ripplebrook also have nominated for the east ward.
The ward includes Drouin, Longwarry, Jindivick, Labertouche and Athlone.
Three candidates have nominated for the central ward which is predominantly the Warragul township.
After serving one term on council Joe Gauci has renominated and will face the challenge of Dale Bainbridge of Warragul and Remi Yusef.
The Gazette also is aware of a number of other candidates who have confirmed their intentions to stand including existing councillor Mikaela Power and Duncan McNeil for the central ward and Shelley Wyatt in the west ward.
An information office about the election has opened in the shire’s former community assets building in Civic Place, Warragul.
Ballot papers will be mailed out between October 4 and 6 and voting papers must be registered with Australia Post by 6pm on October 21.
The result of the poll will be declared on Monday, October 31.