Race for council

A strong field of 21 candidates will seek election to nine councillor positions for Baw Baw Shire.

When nominations closed last Tuesday, the Victorian Electoral Commission had received 21 nominations including nine women and 12 men.

There are nine candidates for central ward, six for east ward and six for west ward. Three councillors will be elected in each ward.

But for the first time, candidates are unable to direct voters on how they would like them to vote.

On August 21, the state government amended legislation relating to the allocation of preferences at local council postal elections.

As a result, candidates are no longer allowed to lodge an indication of preferences in the ballot packs mailed to voters.

So it will be left to voters to determine who they want to vote for and in what order.

There are five sitting councillors in the field of candidates but the remaining three-quarters of nominations are from community members who want to have their say, contribute to the community or bring about change.

The VEC conducted a ballot draw for all wards when nominations closed last week.

Central ward candidates in ballot paper order are: Mikaela Power, Remi Yusef, Teresa Mitchell, Dale Bainbridge, Justin Cooper, Danny Goss, Duncan McNeil, Joe Gauci and Annemarie McCabe.

East ward candidates include David Lyons, Darren Wallace, Peter Kostos, Darren Short, Michael Leaney and Fred Boreham.

West ward candidates are: Jessica O’Donnell, Debbie Brown, Shelley Wyatt, Tricia Jones, Keith Cook and Jennifer Smith.

A record 2135 candidates have nominated for elections across the state, vying for 637 vacancies in the 78 councils. The number of candidates is 6.5 per cent higher than the last elections in 2012.

A strong sense of community involvement is shared among the six candidates standing for Baw Baw Shire’s west ward. Five of the six candidates are women. West ward candidates are: Jessica O’Donnell of Drouin, Debbie Brown of Labertouche, Shelley Wyatt of Drouin, Tricia Jones of Warragul, Keith Cook of Ripplebrook and Jennifer Smith of Drouin.

The ward includes Drouin, Longwarry, Jindivick, Labertouche and Athlone.

Ms O’Donnell said she had been interested in council for some time because she had always been involved in the community and had a passion for the community.

She was Ficifolia Festival president for two years and believes she can be a voice for the community and do something to help.

After one term on council, Cr Brown said she wanted to continue to deliver to the community. She said the current council had spent $114 million on capital works and “I am passionate about that whether it be public toilets or a playground, it’s about putting back into the community.”

The need for female representation inspired Ms Wyatt of Drouin to stand.

With a long list of community involvement positions under her belt including Ficifolia Festival and Gippsland Women in Business, she said she was community orientated and had something to offer.

Cr Jones has served two terms on council and said she wanted to continue helping people.

“I feel there’s a real need for the community to have people that are accessible and approachable.

Mr Cook is Committee for Drouin president. He said while the current council had done a good job, there was more to be done.

He said he would be a councillor that was “out and about” in the community, prepared not to just listen to the people but also talk with them.

Ms Smith said her primary reason for standing was to encourage industry progression and support youth. She said supporting new business and encouraging business development also would assist population growth.