Candidates under fire
ANOTHER surge of ‘dummy candidate’ claims were brought to the fore after the release of a how to vote card for Strzelecki Ward in South Gippsland Shire.
The card features five of the 10 candidates and they appear to favour incumbent councillor Andrew McEwen.
The card is similar to the format of a Tarwin Valley Ward how to vote card featuring Cr Don Hill.
Each candidate to appear on the cards put Crs McEwen and Hill at number two, suggesting they would be their preferred councillors.
Cr McEwen said the candidates had been unfairly libelled, and nothing he nor Cr Hill had done was illegal.
“Everyone in a democracy has the right to stand and preference anyone they like,” he said.
“Preferences for Don and I reflect some candidates’ desire for us to be returned because we have fought for change.”
Strzelecki candidate David Amor appears on Cr McEwen’s how to vote card, but he does not believe it will affect his position in the election.
“Voters know who I am and they may put their trust in me for the next four years. This is an opportunity for them to see my advice on how to vote,” he said.
“I’m definitely independent. The option came to me on September 21 and I filled out my preferences without knowing what the others would put down. With the change of policy, this option was value for money.”
Like Cr Hill, Cr McEwen said the joint how to vote card resulted in substantial savings for the candidates. For a candidate to issue their own how to vote card would cost around $3000.
However, Cr Lorraine Brunt believed current councillors should not need a how to vote card at all.
“It’s pointed, appalling and they should have more respect for people’s intelligence,” she said.
“No incumbent councillor – if they have done their job – should need to doorknock or get five people to back them up. You should be known for what you’ve done during your term.”
When asked if she thought the featured candidates were stooges, Cr Brunt said yes.
Tarwin Valley Ward candidate Graeme Heath reported Cr Hill’s preference votes to the Leongatha office of the Victorian Electoral Commission, but no complaints about Cr McEwen had been made.
“I was disappointed with it. Money is not an issue – I’m running with integrity,” Mr Heath said.
“What bothered me was that it arrived in an official looking envelope, which I felt might confuse or influence people.
“If the community has ethics, it should be able to see through this tactic and they will vote for people who represent them.”
Cr McEwen said the increased number of candidates suggested a need for change in the shire, and the preferences featured on the vote card are candidates that want to inspire change.
“There is no evidence that the people around me are not prepared to stand. All of these people are willing to serve their community,” he said.
Quashing accusations: Cr Andrew McEwen said his how to vote card was legal and candidates had a right to express their preferences.
Short URL: /?p=19760
Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Oct 11 2016. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
