By Jena Carr
Geelong could have a more equal council as the largest number of female candidates put their hands up ahead of this year’s elections.
October’s elections will see 23 women running for a spot on the City of Greater Geelong council out of the 51 candidates, 12 more female candidates from the last council election in 2020.
Women in Local Democracy (WILD) convener Jenny Wills said she was glad to see more women standing for council in this year’s election and helping improve gender parity in local government.
“Gender parity would mean that we have perspectives coming from both men and women to the decision-making table,” she said.
“It (female candidate numbers) has created a climate within the community about the importance of women being there, and I suppose the question is, why they haven’t been there.
“I’m interested in the diversity of women and men who would stand in the future because it’s important that our council moves along this track of being representative of the community.”
The female ward candidates for Geelong council included Aleta Moriarty for Barrabool Hills, Angela Carr for Hamlyn Heights, Shona Mckeen for Leopold, and Kate Lockhart for Murradoc.
Susan Joachim, Emma Sinclair, Teagan Mitchell, and Sian Milton-mcgurk will run for the Charlemont ward, while Melissa Cadwell, Jess Harper, and Mellissa Hutchinson run for the Cheetham ward.
The Deakin ward candidates comprised Sue Cox, Izzy Scherrer and Anastasia Hilton, while Azadeh Doosti, Sarah Hathway and Maddie Slater ran for the Corio wards.
Candidates also included Theresa Slater, Nicole Lynch, and Lorraine Kulic for the You Yangs, Candice Costoso, Emilie Flynn for Kardinia, and Elise Wilkinson and Angela Shearman for the Connewarre wards.
