Lib candidate says no push for council seats

Andrew Mathieson
The Liberals have no plans for a united push against incumbent Labor members at Geelong’s local government elections in November, according to a council candidate and party member.
Angelo Kakouros, who stood without success for the Liberals at the past two federal and state elections, has announced he will have another tilt at Buckley ward over issues involving roads, the environment, planning and water.
Cr Peter McMullin, also a failed federal candidate but for Labor, defeated Mr Kakouros in 2004 in the battle for control of Barwon Heads.
However, a recent distribution has expanded the ward to include voters in Geelong’s southern suburbs.
The vote could leave Barwon Heads with a councillor who lives as far away as Grovedale.
Cr McMullin, who calls Barwon Heads home, has announced he will not contest November’s elections.
Mr Kakouros said his nomination did not reflect Liberal party concerns about Labor members stacking Geelong’s council. “I can tell you that as a fact the Liberal party is not pushing its members to take up a position,” he said.
“They always encourage them but they do not push them or endorse them.”
However, Mr Kakouros believed Labor pushed its members to stand for council elections.
Councillors David Saunderson, Lou Brazier, Jan Farrell and Peter McMullin are all supporters of Labor. Councillors Katos and Stretch Kontelj are council’s sole declared Liberal members.
“When I ran for council four years ago I was not a member of a political party. The only reason I became a member afterward was because I believed council should not be used as a stepping stone to get into state or federal politics.”
Ron Nelson, a Corio branch Liberal president, has also announced a run for council.
Mr Kakouros said he would not stand on party issues but on behalf of residents’ concerns, including “insufficient green space” and fixing a bottleneck on Settlement and Barwon Heads roads.
Cameron Granger, a Labor member who works in the office of state Member for Lara MP John Eren, said he suspected the Liberals were attempting to increase their involvement in local government.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if they came up with a ticket across the whole municipality in every ward,” he said.
“The Labor Party is certainly not. I’m sure there are other members of Labor certainly running but not as part of a ticket.
“I’m happy to say on the record there is no way I am voting along party lines.”