By Jesse Graham
YARRA Ranges residents will soon go to the polls to choose councillors for the coming four years, with candidates nominated and the ballot drawn on Tuesday 20 September.
Candidates for the Yarra Ranges Council elections were announced at a ballot draw event at the Healesville Community Link on Tuesday afternoon, with 18 candidates, community members and supporters present.
Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) returning officer Peter Williams conducted the draw for the nine wards through a computer program.
He said the VEC had used the program, which randomly allocates a number for each candidate, for State Election ballot draws since 1999 and council elections since 2008.
Attendee Lawrence Mobsby asked whether he could appeal the decision to use the electronic ballot draw, in favour of a physical draw with numbered balls.
“If Tim Heenan gets top spot, I’ll challenge it straight away,” he said.
“You’re quite at liberty to go to the VEC in writing, and take it up with the powers that be there,” Mr Williams responded.
“It’s quite possible that the order of the candidates may not change.”
In Billanook, Maria McCarthy, Don Di Battista, Andrew Henley and Tim Heenan will run as candidates for councillor.
The three candidates for Chandler Ward are Tony Stevenson, Sue McMurdie and Geoff Pain – current councillor and mayor Jason Callanan was not listed among the candidates for the ward.
Andrew Witlox, Darren Magee, Sami Hisheh and Richard Higgins will contest Chirnside Ward, while Mike Clarke, Kris Recke and Catherine Keil will contest Lyster Ward in the Dandenong Ranges.
Councillor Terry Avery will be re-elected unopposed, with no other nominations for candidates being received.
Jim Child and Chelsea McNab will contest the O’Shannassy Ward, while Dave Hill and Fiona McAllister will contest Ryrie Ward.
David John Francis, Bill Brindle and Noel Cliff will all run for the Streeton Ward while Lisa Di Battista, Jaclyn Strutton and Len Cox will run for Walling Ward.
For more information on the candidates and contact details, visit www.vec.vic.gov.au/YarraRangesElection/Candidates.
The council elections will be run in October, with voting materials to be sent out early in the month to be returned by 21 October.
Mayor Jason Callanan has been contacted for comment.
