By JESSE GRAHAM
WITH TWO more candidates throwing their hats into the ring for the Eildon electorate, the battle for the State Election will be mostly fought by Yarra Ranges locals.
On Tuesday 9 September, former Yarra Ranges mayor and O’Shannassy Ward councillor Jim Child announced to his council colleagues that he would be standing for the Nationals in the election.
His announcement was followed by applause in the chamber, delivered by a group of supporters – including Friends of Forestry member, Graham Taylor.
Cr Child, a Yarra Junction resident, said that his candidacy would be a continuation of the work he did in the community as a councillor.
“I have always been committed to my local community and this campaign is an opportunity to take that commitment to another level,” he said.
Cr Child said he would take a leave of absence before the election, as stipulated by the Municipal Association of Victoria’s guidelines for councillors standing for elections.
Meanwhile, Steels Creek resident Wirrun Sky announced that he would also be running for election on 29 November, but as an Independent candidate.
Mr Sky, who grew up in the area, said that he hoped to run a number of community conversations, in the same vein as Cathy McGowan’s landmark federal campaign last year, and form his policies on what the community desired.
He said that he wanted to run as a representative of his community, unaffiliated with party lines, and that he would be visiting residents across the electorate in coming months to discuss their views.
“I want to run free of party ideology and the party-line bickering, and have a discourse based on community-identified issues, with a view to achieve community-driven outcomes,” Mr Sky said.
Cr Child also said he would be hitting the road in the lead-up to the election, touring the electorate – which stretches from Warburton to Mansfield – and meeting voters.
Mr Sky and Cr Child join Upper Yarra Community House CEO and Labor candidate, Sally Brennan, Healesville resident and Independent candidate, Bruce Argyle, Seymour MP and Liberal candidate, Cindy McLeish and Merrijig resident and Greens candidate Marie Sellstrom on the ballot paper for the election – four out of six of the candidates are based in the Yarra Ranges.
The Coalition has traditionally only preselected one candidate from either the Liberal or Nationals party for election, but Nationals’ State Director, Jenny Hammet said the two Eildon candidates would provide more representation for the group.
“There is knowledge and agreement within the Coalition partnership that the voters in Eildon are best served by a strong Coalition presence in the election campaign,” she said.
However, Ms Brennan called into question the Coalition’s stability with the dual running candidates.
“It seems to me to be going against the Coalition agreement, that they won’t post candidates against each other,” she said.
“I think the important message for the electorate is, in terms of government, if you vote for one, you vote for the other.”
What are some of the biggest issues for you in the lead-up to the State Election? What projects or issues would shape or change your vote? Send a letter to the editor at PO Box 470, Healesville, 3777 or to editorial@yvnews.com.au.
