Only vote: Brownbill ward candidate Michelle Heagney.
By Noel Murphy
ONLY ONE of six candidates battling for Geelong’s central city ward can vote for themself.
But Michelle Heagney this week cried foul after rival Angelo Kakours’s letter-drop campaign labelling her ‘Not Local’.
Ms Heagney, who lives outside City of Greater Geelong at Sutherlands Creek but owns a property in Brownbill Ward, reported Mr Kakouros to Victorian Electoral Commission for singling her out ahead of other candidates, who all also lived elsewhere.
Mr Kakouros also owns property within Brownbill but only Heagney can vote in the ward because she lives outside the City. Mr Kakouros is obliged to vote in the ward where he lives.
Both Liberal party members claimed long community affiliations with central Geelong and argued the other was trying to trick ratepayers.
“The problem with just labelling me as not local is this statement applies to all candidates for Brownbill ward and, in fact, I am the only candidate on the electoral roll who is eligible to vote in Brownbill ward,” Ms Heagney said.
“I lived in Drumcondra in 2005 to 2010 and still own that property.
“I spend my day living in or close top Brownbill ward. Our family doctor is in East Geelong, I buy my groceries from the Safeway at Pakington Strand, Geelong West, support other retailers and cafes within Brownbill ward and my children attend day-care at Ariston.”
Ms Heagney claimed ratepayers were “smart enough to realise’’ that Mr Kakouros only wanted to be in a position of power after previous unsuccessful bids for council and for the Liberal party in federal and state elections.
Mr Kakouros defended his letter-drop, saying Ms Heagney was using a loophole that allowed her to vote in Brownbill.
She would live within the City if she was serious about serving as a councillor, he said.
“It might appear I’m singling her out but, by her own admission, she doesn’t live in the City of Greater Geelong. She’s treating the ratepayers as fools.
“Living in a different ward is very different to living outside the city. She can dress it up however she likes but at the end of day she does not live in the City of Greater Geelong and that’s a fact.”
