OCTOBER'S local government elections are set to proceed, subject to advice from Victoria's Chief Health Officer.
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Stage three 'Stay at home' COVID-19 restrictions mean candidates are refocusing their campaigns, with an emphasis on engaging with residents online.
Here are all the candidates we are aware of, to date, and some links to learn more about them.
We will be adding to this story as we learn of more.
If you are running, or know of someone who is, please feel free to email us at addynews@bendigoadvertiser.com.au
First, some essentials...
Greater Bendigo council has three wards: Eppalock, Lockwood and Whipstick.
Three councillors will be elected in each of the three wards.
Councillors are elected to a four-year term.
October 24 is election day for Victorian local governments this year
This will be the first year postal voting is used by all councils.
You will need to have enrolled to vote by August 28. For more information about enrolling, click here.
Candidate nominations open on September 17.
An election office is expected to open in Bendigo on September 16.
Ballot packs will be sent out between October 6 - 8.
Votes have to be sent by 6pm on October 23.
Results will be declared on November 13.
Eppalock ward
Matthew Evans
First time council candidate.
Election issues:
- Community engagement
- COVID-19 recovery
- Spreading investment across all of Greater Bendigo
- Finances
Chair of the Liberal Party's Bendigo branch, but not endorsed for the local government election; the party does not endorse candidates for council elections in Victoria.
Hear more from this candidate:
Margaret O'Rourke
Bendigo mayor, currently representing Eppalock ward.
Margaret O'Rourke was first elected to council in 2016, with 16.10 per cent of first preference votes.
In 2019, Cr O'Rourke became the first person in the council's history to serve as mayor four times in the one council term. She is also chair of Regional Cities Victoria.
Election issues:
- COVID-19 response and recovery;
- Jobs growth and industry;
- Responsible and effective local government.
George Flack
Currently representing Eppalock ward.
This is George Flack's third council campaign. He was elected in 2016 with 17.91 per cent of first preference votes.
Cr Flack previously ran in 2012, securing 16.33 per cent of first preference votes but not a seat on council.
Election issues:
- Acting in the best interests of ratepayers
Lewis Freeman-Harrison
First campaign for Bendigo council, having previously run in Wyndham City Council in 2016.
Election issues:
- Equality;
- Fairness;
- Support for small business;
- A voice for young citizens.
Hear more from this candidate:
Brett Mitchell
First campaign for Bendigo council for independent candidate Brett Mitchell.
Election issues:
- COVID-19 response and recovery
- Community and sporting hubs
- Job creation
- Community connectedness
Hear more from this candidate:
Gregory Jacobs
First campaign for Bendigo council for independent candidate Gregory Jacobs.
Election issues:
- Recycling
- Sustainability and the environment
- Live music and performance
- Footpaths and bike paths
Gregory Penna
First campaign for Bendigo council for independent candidate Gregory Penna.
Election issues:
- Accountability and transparency
- Education and training
- Community organisations
- COVID-19 recovery
Robin Chapman
First time campaign for Bendigo council by independent candidate Robin Chapman.
Election issues:
- Small towns' needs
- Greater cooperation on fire mitigation
Lockwood ward
Vyonne McLelland-Howe
First time council candidate.
Election issues:
- Responding to climate change;
- COVID-19 recovery;
- Social justice issues.
President of the Climate Crisis Policy Party.
Nathan Rogers
First time council candidate.
Election issues:
- Revitalising Hargreaves Mall;
- Support for community groups;
- Improve community safety measures, such as emergency response;
- Improve Greater Bendigo's ability to host national and international sporting events;
- COVID-19 recovery.
Hear more from this candidate:
John Cooper
Last ran in 2016, with 1.79 per cent of first preference votes.
Election issues:
- Parking;
- Roads;
- Bike lanes;
- Public transport;
- Diversity and inclusion.
Founding member of The Reason Party.
Hear more from this candidate:
Rod Fyffe
Currently representing Lockwood ward.
Rod Fyffe was first elected to council in 1983. He secured 27.46 per cent of first preference votes in the 2016 election.
Cr Fyffe has served as mayor of the councils in which he has served numerous times.
Election issues:
- Industrial land;
- Connectivity;
- Economic development;
- Investing in the creative industries and the environment;
- Investing in sporting facilities, festivals and major events.
Jennifer Alden
Currently representing Lockwood ward.
Jennifer Alden was elected in 2016 with 8.86 of first preference votes.
Cr Alden has served as deputy mayor during this term of council.
Election issues:
- Investing to improve community health and wellbeing;
- Acting on climate and biodiversity breakdown;
- COVID-19 and tourism recovery;
- Jobs in renewable energy, waste recycling and sustainable affordable housing;
- Independent governance and citizen engagement.
Running as an Independent candidate in this year's council election.
Barry Lyons
Barry Lyons has served two previous terms on council and was first elected to the City of Greater Bendigo's council in 2008.
He has been both mayor and deputy mayor of the council.
Mr Lyons ran for a third term in 2016 but did not gain enough votes to be elected, once preferences were distributed.
Election issues:
- Prioritise regional areas of the council area
- Ensure council services are not diminished or compromised during the pandemic
- Careful and considered council decisions during and after the pandemic
- Long term plans for Bendigo
See more from this candidate:
Vaughan Williams
Vaughan Williams ran in 2016, securing 5.43 per cent of first preference votes in the Lockwood ward.
Mr Williams also ran as a One Nation candidate in Bendigo's 2019 federal election.
Election issues:
- Technology-centric industry in Bendigo
- A smart IT city initiative
- Rate freeze and cost reductions
Hear more from this candidate:
Narelle Jayne Byrne
First time council candidate.
Election issues:
- Human rights and social justice
- Legal opportunities for marginalised
- Services for mental health, disability, the elderly
- Housing.
Hear more from this candidate:
Whipstick ward
Dave Fagg
First time council candidate.
Election issues:
- Community engagement;
- Supporting young people and families;
- Revitalising recreation reserves and open spaces;
- Spreading investment across all of Greater Bendigo;
- Supporting small businesses.
Hear more from this candidate:
Thomas Prince
Last ran in 2016, securing 11.66 per cent of the ward's first preference votes.
Election issues:
- Community engagement;
- Waste management;
- Community investment;
- COVID-19 recovery
Hear more from this candidate:
Pauline Murtagh
First time council candidate.
Election issues:
- Community consultation;
- Dog parks;
- Improving Peter Krenz Leisure Centre
Hear more from this candidate:
Kathryn Stanislawski
First time council candidate.
Election issues:
- Community consultation;
- Waste management;
- Responding to climate change.
Hear more from this candidate:
Michelle Goldsmith
Last ran in 2016, when she received 9.69 per cent of first preference votes.
Election issues:
- Diversity;
- Inclusion;
- Equity;
- Action on climate change.
Greens-endorsed Bendigo candidate and Greens party member.
Hear more from this candidate:
Andrea Metcalf
Currently representing Whipstick ward.
Elected in 2016, with 13.21 per cent of first preference votes.
This is Andrea Metcalf's second campaign for local government.
Election issues:
- Community engagement;
- Waste management;
- Industrial land;
- COVID-19 response and recovery;
- Peter Krenz Leisure Centre.
Malcolm Pethybridge
Currently representing Whipstick ward.
First ran in 2016, securing 7.74 per cent of first preference votes.
Elected in October 2018 following a countback, which was triggered by the resignation of former councillor Julie Hoskin.
Election issues:
- Industrial land;
- Jobs;
- Housing;
- Bendigo Showgrounds;
- Peter Krenz Leisure Centre;
- Bendigo Airport.
Jan Pagliaro
Previously ran in 2016 in Lockwood ward, with three per cent of first preference votes.
Election issues:
- Business and industry;
- Community consultation;
- Bendigo Showgrounds, of which Ms Pagliaro is a committee member;
- Peter Krenz Leisure Centre.
Hear more from this candidate:
James Rouel
First time council candidate.
Election issues:
- COVID-19 response and recovery;
- Attracting more major events to the region;
- Standing up for and supporting the city's most disadvantaged and vulnerable residents.
Hear more from this candidate:
Julie Sloan
First-time council candidate, endorsed by the Animal Justice Party.
Election issues:
- Protecting animals and threatened species;
- Promoting community health and wellbeing;
- Sustainable environmental outcomes;
- Accountable community consultation.
Hear more from this candidate:
Luke Martin
First-time council candidate.
Election issues:
- Local government service provision
- Local employment
- Community consultation
- Healthy communities
- Heritage preservation.
An Australian Labor Party member, but not running as an endorsed candidate.
Hear more from this candidate:
What's the latest on holding elections during the pandemic?
The state government has confirmed local government elections will go ahead on October 24.
The government first announced as much in May, but Victoria subsequently faced a second wave of COVID-19 infections resulting in heightened restrictions.
Both local government minister Shaun Leane and premier Daniel Andrews faced questions about how elections would safely proceed.
Confirming the elections on August 19, Mr Leane said there were no compelling public health grounds for the elections to be delayed.
The Victorian Electoral Commission has urged Victorians to register to vote.
Victorians are living under two levels of restrictions, which are expected to see them housebound until just before candidate nomination open.
Safe campaigning guidelines have been launched for candidates.
The state's peak body for local government, the Municipal Association of Victoria, has been calling for council elections to be deferred to October 2021.
Bendigo candidates have raised arguments against postponing local government elections.
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