Note: This post was written before nominations closed. Click here for final list of candidates
Mayor stands again
Mayor Heather Cunsolo will seek another term in Council by standing in her home ward of Port Melbourne. She faces opposition from PEPP’s Sabina Sablok and Greens’ Richard Whitfield. Typically the debate focuses on Port’s representation on Council with a widely held perception that it’s the ‘neglected child’ in Port Phillip. It’s likely that Bay Street and Waterfront Place will be top talking points as will the ongoing ‘fiasco’ that is Fishermans Bend.
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Montague Greens candidate withdraws
In the neighbouring ward of Montague, Greens candidate Ahmed Elsayed has withdrawn due to unexpected family events. This reduces the contest to possibly a two header with current Councillor Peter Martin up against PEPP newcomer Chris Schwarze.
Montague is the largest in area of the new wards but has the smallest number of actual voters (9069) – a massive 30% deviation from the more populated wards.
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Battle of Balaclava becomes a five-way tussle
TWiSK can confirm that Alex Kats is set to be a candidate in Balaclava. A self-described ‘Writer, Enthusiast,. Contributor’, Alex has a record of activity in multifaith activities. He will be facing Labor’s Libby Buckingham, Greens’ Rachel Iampolski, PEPP’s Michelle Di Donna and fellow independent Alex Darton.
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Six at least in St Kilda
The addition of Victorian Socialist Colleen Bolger to the St Kilda list brings it up to six candidates including Labor’s Robbie Nyaguy, Greens’ Tim Baxter, PEPP’s Serge Thomann plus two independents David Blakeley and Jenni Roper.
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Meet all these candidates at the TWiSK St Kilda Candidates Forum on Monday 7 October from 6.30 pm. Free event. Book your seat now or sign up for online stream
Lakeside has the most voters and the least ‘brand’ recognition
This ward covers St Kilda Road/Queens Way and parts surrounding the St Kilda Junction. Some addresses are 3004, others 3182. Even more confusing is that much of the North side of St Kilda Road is in the City of Melbourne. But with over 12653, it has the most voters of any ward.
It’s set to be a five-way race with Labors’ Barney Moore, Greens’ Ivy Pierlot, PEPP’s Levi Silcox, RoPP’s Bryan Mears and Independent Jo McDonald.
With few community facilities and a history of being on the ‘borderline’, this ward is awash with grievances. The Junction remains a traffic sewer and eyesore, St Kilda Road in St Kilda is a rundown mix of vacant offices, dubious massage parlours and low grade apartments. While residents on the boulevard sections of St Kilda Road wonder what they get for their rates. (Full disclosure: TWiSK HQ is in Lakeside postcode 3182)
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Women lead the field in Elwood
Leafy, tranquil and proudly community minded, the candidates in Elwood are living up to the area’s reputation. Unless an unexpected candidate or two emerge, it’s set to be an all-female field including: Labor’s Louise Crawford, Greens’ Liliana Carranza, PEEP’s Janet de Silva and independent Sally Gibson. With green credentials all-round and loads of media savvy, it’s going to be a house to house, apartment to apartment tussle.
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All-in campaign in Alma
While Alma may feel neglected by Council, it’s not suffering from lack of candidate attention. Door knocking, leaflet dropping, store front stalking and corflute campaigns are already happening in earnest.
Independent Justin Halliday, Labor’s Jill Horman, Ex-Labor ex-Mayor Dick Gross, RoPP’s Brendan Perera and Greens’ Josie Foster (pictured in that order above) are all working hard for your support,.
Issues include the hard times for local traders, future of Coles / Woolies, lack of open space and lack of council investment. The divisive debate on bike lanes may also linger on.
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Albert Park will not be a walk in the park
Property values and incomes in Albert Park might be amongst the highest in Port Phillip (or Melbourne for that matter) but that doesn’t mean the voting intentions are easy to predict.
RoPP’s Rod Hardy will be emphasising the burden on ratepayers, Greens’ Connor Slattery will be appealing to the solar citizens and climate concerned, Rhonda Small (independent) will be focusing on progressive issues, Beverley Pinder OAM will be emphasising her experience as a CoM councillor while Independent Lauren Sherson will be parading her community credentials and smarts as a local, former Liberal candidate for State Parliament.
TWiSK expects the contest to get ‘a little bit heated’ with accusations and counter accusations on Facebook and in letterboxes. Probably more noise that the Grand Prix!
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South Melbourne – it’s a matter of preference
In a three-way battle, a candidate’s first priority is not to come third because your preferences deliver victory to someone else – yikes. With Greens, ALP and RoPP candidates the race will be more intense than the Market Sea food section before Greek Easter!
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