Four councillors back without vote

Four councillors were returned unopposed after City of Greater Geelong council elections attracted the smallest field in the 15-year history of the municipality.
The withdrawal of two candidates after the close of nominations left John Mitchell without a challenger in Austin ward.
Deakin ward’s Andrew Katos, Cheetham’s Rod Macdonald and Beangala’s Jan Farrell won new terms a day before after the deadline passed on Tuesday without other nominations for their seats.
Forty-two candidates will contest the City elections, down about 40 per cent on the 72 nominations in 2004.
All other councils in the region attracted more candidates than places.
Buckley ward will host the hottest contest among Geelong wards, with seven candidates vying for election after incumbent councillor Peter McMullin announced he would instead run for mayor of Melbourne.
Liberals Angelo Kakouros and Ron Nelson face Labor’s Andy Richards, who also ran for Deakin in a by-election earlier this year.
Six candidates will contest Cr Lou Brazier’s Corio ward, while Labor colleague David Saunderson faces four competitors in Cowie.
Cr Saunderson could lose votes among the ward’s large Croatian and Macedonian communities after former Shire of Corio councillor Vinko Ljubanovic joined Eddy Kontelj and Robert Stojanovski to nominate for the ward, along with left-wing activist Bronwyn Jennings.
Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood has four adversaries in his Belmont-based Kardinia award, including Labor member Russell Menzies.
Two-time City mayor Barbara Abley also faces challenges from four nominations in Brownbill ward.
Incumbent Coryule ward councillor Tom O’Connor has two challengers with council experience in Bob Hynes and John Doull, who served on the outgoing Borough of Queenscliffe council.
Labor member Cameron Granger faces a challenge from community activist and anti-fluoridation campaigner Sue McLean in Windemere ward after incumbent councillor Tony Ansett decided against running for a third term on council.
Victoria will run its first simultaneous statewide council elections this year. The postal vote will finish on November 29.