Council to vote on mayor

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
CHANDLER Ward councillor Graham Warren has come out as the frontrunner to the top job in the shire, although at least two other councillors will put their hand up for the chance to become Yarra Ranges’ Mayor in 2012.
Councillors will be voting at tonight’s (Tuesday) statutory meeting on the person they would like to see lead Yarra Ranges Council for the next 11 months.
This term will be shorter than the normal 12 months after the State Government ruled that future council elections will be held in October.
Most of the councillors were sure that Cr Warren and Cr Samantha Dunn would be in the running, along with Cr Noel Cliff.
Cr Warren said it was a job he considered taking up every year, but with a full time job he would have to weigh up the options.
“I think these days it is a full-time role.
“Previously some councillors were still working and fitting it in but I don’t think you can do that and do the job justice,” he said.
“It’s something any councillor would love to do and would be an honour.”
Cr Dunn, who has been deputy mayor previously, said she would be putting her hand up tonight.
“I enjoy connecting with the community, I think I do it well, and I’ve had plenty of experience running meetings and advocating on a range of issues.”
Cr Cliff said with 13 years’ experience behind him, he’d also like to the chance to be mayor.
“I’ve always been a community person, that’s my strength, and to do it really well you have to be prepared to put time into it, and for me that’s not a problem,” he said.
Cr Len Cox, who has had a few years’ experience as mayor, said many of the councillors would make good mayors.
“I think Graham Warren will possibly be running and Samantha Dunn possibly, and I couldn’t separate them if they both did run – they’re both good, talented people,” he said.
Cr Richard Higgins said he wasn’t running and didn’t know who would put their hand up, but he said it could be an option in the future.
With his full time job as Senior Sergeant at Mooroolbark Police Station, Cr Higgins said he’d love to do both, “but if you’re going for mayor you have to do it right”.
Although Cr Tim Heenan wouldn’t speculate on who could take the job, with his former experience as mayor in 2007 and 2008, he said it was an important role to take on.
“We’re all well aware of the extreme responsibility involved in the role and all of us will stand by our mayor every single year,” he said.
Outgoing Mayor Terry Avery said he wouldn’t be standing again although he’d enjoyed his year in the job. He believed councillors Warren and Dunn would stand but said the result was “in the lap of the gods” tonight.
“Whoever gets the role will do a good job, we don’t have radicals and everyone has views but I think any of them would do a good job,” he said.
Cr Chris Templer did not respond before The Mail’s deadline.