Webb gives voters a younger option
The option for ratepayers to vote for a younger candidate is one of the motivations for a 25 year-old Drouin man signaling his intention to stand at the Baw Baw Shire council election in October.
Aaron Webb said he would nominate for the West Ward that includes Drouin, Longwarry, Drouin West, Drouin South and Jindivick and surrounding rural areas.
Mr West said he was born in Drouin where he has lived most of his life.
He is a past school captain at Neerim District Secondary College and said he had leadership experience within the Scouting movement.
Currently working with his family’s school cleaning business he sees challenges for the shire in getting the “population growth balance” right.
The shire is playing too much of a catch-up game with community infrastructure and needs to push for greater State and Federal government funding support, he said.
On a wider perspective Mr Webb said he believed civic infrastructure in the shire should not be concentrated on Warragul, and to a lesser extent Drouin, but spread out to the smaller centres such as Longwarry, Neerim South and Yarragon.
The election, the second in the shire to be held by postal ballot, will be held with the complication of restrictions due to the coronavirus.
Mr Webb said that as well as traditional media a lot of his campaigning would need to be via social media rather than meeting and talking with residents face-to-face.
Eligible residents have until August 28 to ensure they are enrolled to vote.
Nominations for council close on September 22 and ballot packs, including candidates’ statements, will be distributed by post from October 6-8.
Voting closes on October 23 with the poll scheduled to be declared by the Victorian Electoral Commission by November 13.
Baw Baw Shire will elect nine councillors, three each for the West, Central and East wards, for a four-year term.