A THIRD of council candidates failed to attend Monday night’s public forum.
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The event aimed to introduce all people running in City of Greater Bendigo elections to voters.
While it was hailed a success by attendees, Julian Poloniato,Tim Bardsley, Jennifer Mitchell-Sharp, George Flack, Stuart Fraser, Lisa Ruffell and Wendy Radford were absent, and Councillor Rod Fyffe arrived with about 15 minutes to go.
Jennifer Mitchell-Sharp said she “apologises for not attending” but did not want to be quoted on why she couldn’t make it, and Julian Poloniato said his father’s illness forced him to stay in Melbourne.
Stuart Fraser said he had a flu which he couldn’t throw off, and Lisa Ruffell said she had family commitments.
“I did let the organisers know and it was on Twitter,” Ms Ruffell said.
Cr Fyffe said he had been held up by a strategy meeting with the Bendigo Cemetery Trust and Tim Bardsley and his mother, fellow candidate Wendy Radford, were on a family holiday.
George Flack is overseas.
A second public forum has been organised by Alan Howard with the aim of reviewing the performance of the council.
The event will be held at the Strathdale Community Centre in Crook Street on October 9.
For more information email councilforum@impulse.net.au
Note – the Bendigo Advertiser yesterday reported 12 candidates had attended the forum. This should have said 13, not including Cr Fyffe, who arrived late.