By Kath Gannaway
ALL but two Yarra Ranges wards will be hotly contested as the shire goes to the polls at the end of the month.
Len Cox, the council’s longest-standing councillor with more than 20 years to his credit, has received a vote of confidence from his Walling Ward constituents and will return unopposed.
Chandler is a two-horse race with incumbent Graham Warren fighting it out with Jo Tanner.
In the other seven wards however, there is choice for voters, and competition for would-be councillors.
Mayor Cr Tim Heenan faces the most competition in Billanook with nine candidates while in Chirnside and O’Shannassy voters have a new slate and five options with the retirement of long-standing representatives Ken Smith and Monika Keane.
Melba has four candidates, Lyster, five and Ryrie has six.
Postal votes are expected to be mailed out starting on 11 November and staggered over three or four days, with voting closing at 6pm on Friday, 28 November.
Candidates in order of ballot draw are:
Ryrie Ward
Covers Healesville, Chum Creek, Coldstream, Dixon’s Creek, Gruyere, Yering, Yarra Glen Steels Creek and Badger Creek.
Michael John Matthews
Dorothy Barber
Harold David Hill
Jeanette McRae
Di Moore
Les King
O’Shannassy Ward
Covers Woori Yallock, Launching Place, Don Valley, Millgrove, Hoddles Creek, Gladysdale, Powelltown, Yarra Junction, Wesburn, Warburton, McMahons Creek, Reefton and Yellingbo.
Chris Templer
Robert Hay
Joanne Switserloot
Jim Child
Ted Clarke
Billanook Ward
Covers Mt Evelyn, Lilydale and Wandin North.
K. Sonya Weir
Geoff Bailey
Ian Harris
Tim Heenan
Louise Tesoriero
Lawrence Irwin Mobsby
James Peter Topma
Andrea Wilson
Clare Worsnop
Chandler Ward
Covers Silvan, Kalorama, Seville, Wandin, Monbulk and Macclesfield.
Graham Warren
Jo Tanner
Chirnside Ward
Covers Chirnside Park and Mooroolbark.
Nicky Fraser
Richard Higgins
Sami Hisheh
Richard Wines
Paul Jackman
Lyster Ward
Covers Sherbrooke, Kallist, The Patch, Tecoma, Belgrave, Selby, Menzies Creek, Narre Warren East, Lysterfield and Belgrave Heights.
Samantha Dunn
A.L.P. Coutinho-Hogan
Chris O’Neill
Frank Dean
Manfred Krautschneider
Melba Ward
Covers Lilydale and Mooroolbark.
Clive Larkman
Cathy Butler
Lisa Nink
Terry Avery
Streeton Ward
Covers Mount Dandenong, Montrose, Olinda, Sassafras, Tremont, Ferny Creek, Upwey and part of Upper Ferntree Gully.
Sandra Betts
Noel Cliff
Rodney Lee
Rob Ferguson
Walling Ward
Covers Kilsyth, Mooroolbark and Montrose.
Len Cox – unopposed.
