Balancing act
APART from the sacked councillors who have decided to stand again in the October election for CoGG so far we only have two genuine new candidates.
First off the line was George Ballas, by all accounts a solid and committed community type person.
In the Addy story he was quoted as saying “he would bring a true independence to City Hall”, and he also has no political party ties and no interest in using local council as a platform to higher office. He went on with “I’m not saying I can change the world, but I can bring some sense and sensibility, some rationale and logic”.
From someone who has excellent credentials in “on the ground” community work, a good start with no attempt at grandstanding just a balanced introduction to his thinking.
The other person to put his hand up was Michael King (pictured). Local business owner and developer who hopes to “breathe new life into City Hall”.
Unfortunately his opening pitch to us all goes down hill from there on as Mr King says he’s standing as an Independent.
Really? I ask myself. Mr King was a Liberal deputy mayor under the old City of Geelong council in the 90s.
He has also tried to enter politics with the Liberal Party, losing South Barwon in 2006 to Labor’s Michael Crutchfield. He was also defeated in the Liberal preselection race for the federal seat of Corangamite to Sarah Henderson, ahead of the 2010 election.
They say you can fool some of the people all of the e time and all of the people some of the time but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.
This is obviouslyy something that has escaped Mr King ng over his many years as a political animal.
I should say at this point that I’m sure Mr King is s a fine and upstanding member of the community. I’m also sure thatat his intentions are completely honourable. onourable. I’m also sure he’s still a Liberal in heart and mind.
Interestingly, in the Addy article he is quoted as sayingng “I want it to be clear that I will be running as a genuine independent nt candidate. I won’t be representing ting any party, organisation or individual.” ividual.”
Mr King said if he was successful he would sever r his membership with the Liberalral Party and lobby groups Committee mmittee for Geelong, Chamberer of Commerce and G21.
So let’s tease e our way through this gobbledygook. edygook. He is a member of the Committee for Geelong, Chamber ber of Commerce and G21 and d a member of the Liberal Partyty but if he wins a seat on council ncil he’ll cut all ties and miraculously ulously be a fully certified, paid d up, Independent the day after. er.
Even if he cut ties today I can’t imagine that he is going to suddenly dismiss from om his mindset decades of Liberal indoctrination. It comes across as pragmatic cynicism of the worst kind.
I can just imagine the advice he got. “Listen Michael the old council was accused of being riddled with party politics, which stopped them from getting on with the job. I think you should stand as an Independent to avoid that sort of slur slur”.. Mr King replies “Yes but I wouldn’t want to cut my ties with all my mates unless I was elected so perhaps I’ll hold off to see if I get in first before cutting any ties?” So not a good start from someone who wants us to accept his devotion to the community and his beliefs and principles. The principles he has espous espoused over decades seem destined f for the rubbish dump if he gets in as a councillor but retained if he i isn’t. This isn’t a ne new dilemma and was also a problem for Bernadette Uzelac, CEO of t the Chamber of Commerce, when she stood for Mayor. Ms Uzelac foug fought against being labelled a Liberal until such time as she couldn couldn’t refute it any more and man many consider it severely dama damaged her election chances. This wil will come as a surprise to m many readers but there is n nothing actually wrong w with being a Liberal and I would much prefer c candidates to be upfront about their political affi affiliations. Som Someone who’s prepared t to dump them in the hop hope it will make his stand m more attractive to voters? I’m so sorry I would really have serious reservations ab about them and what exa exactly they stand for, if anyth anything.