Lucky 13 in RCoW vote battle

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 28.10.08

Candidates to begin task of winning your support for council

Written by SALLY EVANS.

A FIERCE political campaign is expected to play out in the Rural City of Wangaratta in the coming weeks with 13 candidates nominating for the seven-member council.

Nine men and four women will contest the November council elections following the close of nominations at noon yesterday.

The field consists of mainly Wangaratta-based candidates, while Anthony Griffiths (Greta West), Neville Wright (Moyhu), Amanda Campbell and Kerrin Chambers (Milawa) will represent the outlying regions.

Among the first to put their hand up for the role were incumbent councillor Rozi Parisotto and fresh faces, Lauren O’Neill (27 years) and Lisa McInerney (29 years), who are also the youngest of the group.

Newcomers Doug McPhie, Amanda Campbell, Ron Aldridge, Anthony Griffiths and Kerrin Chambers helped fill out the rest of the field along with incumbent councillors Bernard Young, Neville Wright, Roberto Paino and Ron Webb.

But a surprise nomination came from long-time local resident, Malcolm McKay, who had kept his intentions to run quiet up until yesterday.

Mr McKay, 63, already has a high community profile as a former police detective and the previous operator of North East Security, and is also well-known as the owner of the Council Club Hotel.

Rather than running on a specific platform, Mr McKay said his decision to contest the council elections was driven by an interest in the local community.

"I’ve now got a little bit of free time and want to give back to the town that has given us so much over the years," he said.

Candidates now have one month to win votes, with ballot packs to be mailed to local residents from November 11 and the election closing on November 28.