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Bendigo’s small army of council candidates will front up to voters in a number of events starting next week.
Thirty-two men and women have thrown their hats into the ring for next month’s election, and the co-organiser of series of public forums for those candidates is hoping all but one – who has already excused himself – will front up.
Progress Bendigo spokesperson Laurie Whelan said the forums would be an opportunity for voters to learn the attributes, values and skills of those who would represent them on council.
“It’s important that as many people as possible come along to see their future councillors perform,” Mr Whelan said.
“To gauge their ability to speak in public and hear their responses to important issues which will contribute to our community, both financially as well as socially and culturally.”
Progress Bendigo organised the forums along with Bendigo Sustainability Group and Bike Bendigo, and Mr Whelan said the groups had composed a series of questions which reflected their interests.
“So they’ll be based around sustainability and climate change, they’ll be questions in regards to council’s environmental strategy, questions related to integrated transport and cycling infrastructure, in regards to cultural diversity and inclusion...and questions in regards to governance and working together,” the former mayor said.
Each candidate will have a set time to respond to the questions and there will also be questions from the floor.
The three groups will then give each candidate a scorecard based on their responses.
The first forum, for Whipstick Ward candidates, will be held on Monday at 7pm at the Peter Krenz Leisure Centre.
The Lockwood Ward forum will be held at 7pm the following Monday at the Y Service Club of Kangaroo Flat while the Eppalock Ward forum will be held at 7pm on Tuesday, October 11 at the Strathdale Community Centre.
The Marong Community Action Group will also hold a forum for Lockwood Ward candidates at the Marong Hall on Tuesday from 7.30pm.
Committee member Heather Wearne said at least 11 of 12 candidates would be attending.
“We believe Marong is a very important piece of the jigsaw puzzle which makes up greater Bendigo and there is a lot of development and growth on our side of town which we want councillors to be aware of,” she said.
“And it’s about giving our community a chance to meet the candidates and find out what sort of people they’ll be voting for.”