‘Independent’ mayoral bid amid ALP takeover

Geelong’s Mayor has des-cribed himself as an “independent” as he seeks a second term in the wake of Labor ousting the region’s last sitting Liberal MP.
Bruce Harwood said he would be free to advocate strongly on behalf of Geelong rather than having “to toe a party line”.
Geelong councillors will choose the city’s mayor on Tuesday after last weekend’s election left the region with Labor MPs at federal and state levels.
Cr Harwood acknowledged Geelong could benefit from a Labor mayor politically aligned with the higher levels of government.
But he also believed the alignment could make a Labor mayor unwilling to fight for Geelong when the city was in disagreement with the other government levels.
The effectiveness of a Labor mayor would “depend on the individual”, Cr Harwood said.
But he would not say whether he thought any of his ALP council colleagues would stand up for Geelong against their own party.
“I don’t think it would be healthy overall to all be headed in the same direction,” Cr Harwood said.
“As an independent, I would be able to advocate strongly on behalf of Geelong and not have to toe a party line regardless of whoever is in power.”
Cr Harwood said he did not expect an independent mayor to have difficulty dealing with the higher levels of government.
“It gives you the ability to speak strongly and freely on behalf of Geelong,” he said.
Cr Harwood could face a challenge from Rod Macdonald, who also described himself as an independent.
Cr Macdonald said he was talking with other councillors about whether he should run for mayor. He hoped to make a decision in the next few days.
He was unsure whether a Labor councillor would benefit or disadvantage Geelong.
“The prime thing is we need a mayor who will take Geelong forward, so it matters how they get on with people and all sectors of the community.”