EIGHTEEN candidates will contest next month’s Mildura Rural City Council election.
Just five of the current nine councillors have chosen to contest this year’s election.
At the close of nominations and ballot draw this week, 13 men and five women had nominated for election including several unsuccessful candidates from the 2016 election keen to try their hand again.
The number of those contesting this year’s Mildura election is well short of the 28 candidates who offered their services in 2016.
Local council elections will be held in Victoria by post in October and voters will receive a ballot pack early next month.
As of the close of nominations, 26 of the state’s 298 individual elections are uncontested, where the number of candidates is equal to the number of vacancies. Voters in those uncontested elections will not be required to vote.
Mildura will also have a new mayor and deputy mayor with Simon Clemence and Min Poole, respectively, opting out of this year’s race, while long-serving councillor Greg Brown and Anthony Cirillo have also chosen not to contact this year’s poll.
The quartet attended their final monthly meeting of councillors this week when Cr Clemence paid tribute to the work of all councillors over the term of office.
“Technically this is our last formal council meeting — I’d just like to congratulate all councillors on their four years of service to the community,” Cr Clemence said.
“I think you have all done a marvellous job and for all of those of you who are intending to continue, I wish you the best of luck in the coming election.
“But for those who have chosen not to … I’d like to particularly thank you guys for your service.”
Cr Clemence also singled out Cr Brown for his longevity in the role.
“He is what perhaps what you might call and elder statesman of this council,” Cr Clemence said.
“He has done a marvellous job for a number of years and very well represented the Mallee Track and those more remote areas of our community.
“So, thank you all for your service, in particular Cr Brown for yours, and I hope all of those of you who choose to go on, I hope you have great success.”
The final list of Mildura Rural City Council candidates in ballot paper order are: Liam Wood, Ian Arney, Kym Kingdon, Mark Eckel, Paul O’Neill, Jason Modica, Domenico Capogreco, Stefano De Pieri, Gavin Sedgmen, Katie Clements, Troy Bailey, Cyndi Power, Glenn Milne, Angy Fikaris, Julie Waters, Helen Healy, Dean Wickham, Jodie Reynolds.
