By NOEL MURPHY
A SECRET last-minute bid by Rod Macdonald for Geelong’s deputy mayor job was spoiled by the council’s Labor bloc in favour of the Liberal Party’s Michelle Heagney.
An extraordinary Labor-Liberal alliance pressured Cr Macdonald, a Labor member himself, to withdraw his planned nomination – which he almost certainly would have won — just hours before the council vote.
The pressure is suggested to be in response to Labor fears that high-profile mayor Darryn Lyons might run for the federal seat of Corio in future. Cr Heagney, who has voted with the anti-Lyons bloc in recent months, is viewed as a potent spoiler for the nominally Liberal mayor.
Council insiders told an Independent investigation Cr Macdonald was primed by the council’s conservative bloc when it became apparent the contest between Cr Heagney and former mayor Bruce Harwood would not go its way.
Cr Macdonald canvassed support from the Liberal bloc of the council and, confident of its support, agreed to stand.
He emailed other councillors announcing his intention of standing for deputy mayor.
With Cr Harwood expected to withdraw from the contest, the 7:6 outcome expected to go Cr Heagney’s way would have been in Cr Macdonald’s favour.
Within just hours, however, and under pressure from the left bloc, he withdrew from the contest.
Cr Macdonald has been reluctant to speak on the issue, refusing to be drawn on political influences or implications.
“It’s gone and done. I spoke to a number people, we had discussions, went through what’s happening, and I decided not to stand,” he said.
“It’s all history, all the could have, would have, should have … no, it was my decision.”
Cr Heagney would not be drawn on the issue or her alliance with Labor councillors such as recent South Barwon candidate Andy Richards. She said Cr Macdonald’s email was his “and his right to talk about”.
She believed she could work with Cr Lyons as his deputy but said “like any relationship, it takes both parties to work together”.
Cr Richards told the Independent he spoke with Cr Macdonald on his deputy mayor plans but would not elaborate further.
Cr Harwood said he would not comment.
“In all my time on council I haven’t made formal comment on these issues,” he said.
Cr Lyons could not be contacted for comment.
