By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Geelong council will be sacked on Thursday but fresh elections will be held in October 2017.
And State Opposition Leader Matthew Guy reckons Darryn Lyons could have a fair chance of winning his mayoral position back at that time.
The Andrews government was forced to back down on its plan to have an administrator in place for four years.
The Opposition, Greens and cross-benchers in the Upper House all stated concerns at the length of time the council would be removed.
Legislation to sack the council was passed in the Lower House on Tuesday, with the council to be dismissed until 2020.
But the State Government does not have the numbers to force the Bill through the Upper House, forcing it to negotiate with the Greens.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said any Victorian, including Cr Lyons, had the right to run for election.
“It’s his decision. Would he win? He’s probably still popular in Geelong.
“I don’t live in Geelong so what I get is secondhand but I think he’s got a fair following in Geelong.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he stood again and won.”
Mr Guy said holding fresh council elections for Geelong in 2017 was a “sensible timeframe”.
He said any move to change the governance structure of Geelong, including adding a directly elected deputy mayor, should be held back and considered over the intervening 18 months.
