Matt Hewson
Geelong council is set for a shake-up as the 2024 election approaches, with the ballot finalised this week.
Three of the 11 current councillors – Bruce Harwood, Jim Mason and Belinda Moloney – will not contest their seats on the council, while the restructuring of Greater Geelong wards will add a further twist.
The current structure has four wards, each represented by two or three councillors, while the new structure organises the region into 11 wards of one councillor each.
The reorganisation will see some wards contested entirely by new candidates and two current councillors fighting for one seat in Corio.
Outgoing councillor Jim Mason said new councillors needed to bear in mind that often it was “important to get something done rather than nothing”.
“Sometimes a relentless striving for the perfect will get us nowhere,” he said.
“One has to ensure that the big beast of the council continues to be as effective as possible for all people, not just the majority but the various minority groups as well.
“(New councillors) should be well researched; there’s no point promising something you can’t deliver and disrupting council for the next year or two trying to deliver something that’s impossible.”
Barrabool Hills Ward will see Ron Nelson fight to keep his seat against David McGinness and Aleta Moriarty.
A new councillor will represent Charlemont as no incumbents are on the list, which includes Susan Joachim, Emma Sinclair, Blake Hadlow, Sian Milton-McGurk, Teagan Mitchell and Sunny Dhaliwal.
Councillor Melissa Cadwell is running in Cheetham Ward against Jess Harper, Jon Metrikas, Mellissa Hutchinson and Tom Gant, while Geelong’s most recent councillor Elise Wilkinson has only one opponent in Connewarre Ward in Angela Shearman.
Recent council addition Sarah Hathway and Deputy Mayor Anthony Aitken contest Corio Ward as well as new candidates Azadeh Doosti, Maddie Slater, Robert Blaszczyk and Danny Mahfoud.
Deakin has a crowded ballot with no incumbents, including Sue Cox, Nicholas Kennedy, Izzy Scherrer, Andrew Katos, Andy Richards, Joshua Haitsma, Derek Wallace and Anastasia Hilton.
Angela Carr, Mathew Hood, Cr Eddy Kontelj and Joey Nicita are the candidates for Hamlyn Heights, while Councillor Peter Murrihy will fight for his seat in Kardinia Ward against Johnny Dunstan, Candice Costoso, Daniel Garcia, Peter Desbrowe-Annear, Emilie Flynn and former mayor Stretch Kontelj.
Current mayor Trent Sullivan faces two other contenders in Leopold Ward, Shona McKeen and David Lynch.
Murradoc is also guaranteed to produce a new councillor in either Rowan D Story or Kate Lockhart, as is You Yangs Ward, contested by David Greenwood, Theresa Slater, Lorraine Kulic, Nicole Lynch and Chris Burson.
Geelong Council elections are held via postal voting. Voting opens Tuesday, September 17 and closes at 6pm on Saturday, October 26.
Visit vec.vic.gov.au/voting/2024-local-council-elections/greater-geelong-city-council/nominations for more information on candidates or visit geelongaustralia.com.au/elections for information on the election and the new wards structure.
