Ex-councillor Aitken launches mayoral bid

Former Geelong councillor Anthony Aitken is the latest nomination for the city’s mayor.
The 43-year-old business owner told the Independent he wanted to provide the community with a “wider choice of candidates”.
“I encourage other community-minded people, especially, woman to stand,” Mr Aitken said.
“I represent the next generation of quality community leaders in Geelong.
“I care about Geelong and am passionate about its future.”
Mr Aitken said he had an “extensive history of community service” including ongoing roles on a number of not-for-profit boards.
He served three terms as a Geelong councillor, including a stint as deputy mayor.
“Being a politician is a privilege and I have the history of seeing firsthand the strengths and weaknesses of four different mayors.
“I intend to utilise that experience, my business skills and financial qualifications to be the best mayor I can be for the people of Geelong.
“A number of candidates have said they will not release a vision for Geelong. It is my intention during the election campaign to launch visionary ideas and to establish a process for a shared Vision for Geelong.”
Mr Aitken said his priorities as mayor would be to: restore community confidence in council; repair the relationship between the mayor’s office and existing councillors; lead a financially responsible council; and to “shift the focus and agenda” back on jobs, which he described as the city’s most-important issue.
Nominations for City of Greater Geelong’s mayoral by-election close midday Tuesday.
A postal vote will elect council’s new leader after prominent businessman Keith Fagg quit 10 months into a four-year term as Geelong’s first directly elected mayor, citing stress.
The Independent revealed earlier this month that he fell out with councillors over plans to use their wards funds to remove parking meters in central Geelong.