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Poll ‘mess’ looms By Mitchell Clarke An outgoing Cardinia Shire councillor has warned of a “messy” election, which is set to be unlike anything the council has seen, as more than 40 candidates fight for a sought-after spot on the new-look council. Cardinia Shire Council has officially entered its caretaker period, and the current team of councillors have now finished their four-year term. And two councillors - Leticia Wilmot and Jodie Owen - will not return to contend for their respective wards. The former mayors fronted the final council meeting on Monday 21 September to announce their departure. Both women hinted towards an unprecedented election, which will mark the introduction of single ward councillors. The congregation of candidates are desperately vying for a spot in their respective wards, including a team campaigning under a controversial “bloc”, vowing to ‘clean up’ the council. It follows rumours swirling among current councillors that a number of “dummy” candidates have put their names forward to prop up running mates. Cardinia Shire’s new boundary structure features nine wards - Beaconhills, Bunyip, Central, Henty, Officer, Pakenham Hills, Ranges, Toomuc and Westernport - with just one councillor elected to each. According to the VEC, candidates must live in the Cardinia Shire but can nominate to represent any ward in the council. “The next election looks like it’s going to get really messy. It’s going to be very different to what we’ve seen at Cardinia,” Cr Wilmot told Monday’s council meeting. “It’s going to get interesting and I’m really looking forward to sitting on the sidelines and watching the events unravel.” A similar sentiment was shared by Jodie Owen, who urged candidates to join the council for the right reasons. “I hope that those that come in behind me do so for our community - don’t do it to get on State or Federal,” she said.
Saturday 24 October is shaping up to be a huge day in the Hamilton household. Pakenham Football Club president Travis Hamilton and wife Kylie have both announced they’ll be running for council in the Toomuc and Bunyip Wards, respectively. But for the couple’s five-year-old son, Jetta, his main focus on the day will be on the footy, given that the election falls on AFL grand final day. The Yellow and Black tragic will hell-bent on ensuring Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS his beloved Tigers are in contention to go back to back. 215581 “Love your community and get elected because that’s whats important, and that’s what’s kept me going.” Now-former mayor Jeff Springfield said it had been an “absolute honour and pleasure” to work alongside his fellow councillors. He said the council had achieved some great outcomes within the community.
“I often hear from officers that this is one of the best council groups they’ve ever witnessed and I believe that would be true,” Cr Springfield said. “I think we really have a great, unique cohort of community minded people here.” Mr Springfield is set to automatically join the next term, thanks to an uncontested elec12455254-CG33-20
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tion, after he was the only candidate to nominate for the Ranges Ward. Existing councillors Graeme Moore, Ray Brown, Michael Schilling, Collin Ross, Brett Owen and Carol Ryan will all contend again in their respective single wards. For a list of candidates for the 24 October poll, turn to page 4. 12418633-LN21-19