JULIE Hoskin has resigned from her role as a City of Greater Bendigo councillor.
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The council confirmed the resignation in a statement and a countback in Whipstick Ward will be held in mid to late October.
Ms Hoskin emailed her resignation to the council’s governance manager on Friday.
Mayor Margaret O’Rourke said the minister for local government and Victorian Electoral Commission had been informed of the resignation.
“I would like to acknowledge Ms Hoskin’s service to the community, particularly the Whipstick Ward, since her election in 2016,” she said.
“Ms Hoskin’s position in the Whipstick Ward is now vacant and the Victorian Electoral Commission is expected to conduct a countback.
“The result of the countback is not expected to be known until mid to late October, which will be confirmed by the Victorian Electoral Commission.
“Ms Hoskin’s resignation will not affect the business of council or the many projects and services underway in the community.”
The Whipstick Ward councillor was elected to her first term at the 2016 election.
Ms Hoskin received 2528 votes, or 11.72 per cent, winning a seat on council on preferences ahead of former mayor Peter Cox who polled 328 more votes.
Ms Hoskin was a lead objector to the approval of Bendigo’s first mosque, unsuccessfully challenging the council’s decision in VCAT, the Court of Appeal and High Court.
The council later pursued her and fellow mosque objector Kathleen Howard for more than $32,000 in court costs.
Ms Hoskin was issued with a formal list of complaints by the council in May in relation to alleged breaches of the councillor code of conduct.
She also attended a meeting in April in which a group of residents resolved to attempt to charge council chief executive officer Craig Niemann with “treason”.
Before being elected to council, Ms Hoskin sat in the mayor’s chair at a council meeting in September, 2015, after anti-mosque protesters forced the meeting to be abandoned.
Ms Hoskin has been contacted for comment.
Countback to be held in about a month
Former mayor Peter Cox and 29-year-old Thomas Prince appear to be the front runners for when a countback for Whipstick Ward is held in mid to late October.
Ms Hoskin’s votes will be redistributed until an eligible candidate has more than 50 per cent.
Mr Prince came within a handful of votes of third elected councillor James Williams at the 2016 poll.
Mr Prince told the Bendigo Advertiser he would be happy to step into the role.
“I’d take it,” he said.
“I’d still be able to work, and would still be able to do my community activities.
“I’d guess that more of Julie’s preferences would come to me over Peter.
“I wish her all the best.”
Mr Cox was contacted for comment.
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