COUNCILLOR nominations for the City of Greater Bendigo open today.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Nominees have five days to register for the elections, and are vying for nine positions across three wards.
Six of the current councillors will run again, with James Reade and Keith Reynard choosing not to re-nominate.
Sitting councillor Rod Campbell won’t yet reveal if he will run again.
The elections have traditionally been hard-fought, with six councillors losing their seats at the last election.
Those confirmed as running in the Eppalock Ward include George Flack, Wayne McKay, Tim Bardsley, Mark Werageda and Stuart Fraser.
Wendy Radford, Elise Chapman and Karen Corr will run in the Lockwood Ward, and James Williams and Jenni Mitchell-Sharp will run in the Whipstick Ward.
Between 30 and 40 people are tipped to enter the race by the time nominations close at noon next Tuesday, September 25.
“There’s a total of 79,410 people enrolled to vote in Bendigo across the three wards,” Bendigo returning officer Tony McDowell said.
Mr McDowell said details of candidates would be revealed next Tuesday and their place on the ballots drawn at 2pm.
Voting packs, which include how-to-vote cards, will be sent out from
October 9.
Mr McDowell said it was important for voters to understand how to fill out the ballots – all boxes must be filled and the envelope signed – with about a three per cent informal vote.
This will be the first council election with the new three ward system and proportional representation vote counting, with votes due back by 6pm on Friday, October 26.
For more information, phone (03) 5443 6220 or visit vec.vic.gov.au