Successful candidates for Boroondara and Whitehorse

The Victorian Electoral Commission has completed counting for the local government elections and declared the successful councillors.

If you live in Boroondara, your councillors are:

Bellevue Ward:  Michael Nolan (independent, new)

Cotham Ward: Felicity Sinfield (Liberal party, returning)

Gardiner Ward: Victor Franco (independent, returning)

Glenferrie Ward: Wes Gault (Greens, returning)

Junction Ward: Mal Osborne-Smith (independent, new)

Lynden Ward: Lisa Hollingsworth (independent, returning)

Maling Ward: Shima Ibuki (independent, new)

Maranoa Ward: Chris Pattas (independent, new)

Riversdale Ward: Rob Baillieu (independent, new)

Solway Ward: John Friend-Pereira (Greens, new)

Studley Ward: Sophie Torney (independent, new)

Full results are here https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/2024-local-council-elections/boroondara-city-council/results

For Whitehorse residents, your councillors are:

Cootamundra Ward: Kieran Simpson (independent, new)

Eley Ward: Daniel Griffiths (independent, new)

Elgar Ward: Blair Barker (independent, returning)

Kingsley Ward: Kirsten Langford (Liberal, new)

Lake Ward: Hayley Waller (ALP, new)

Mahoneys Ward: Jason Martin (independent, new)

Simpson Ward: Prue Cutts (independent, returning)

Sparks Ward: Peter Allan (My Place, new)

Terrara Ward: Jarrod Gunn (independent, new)

Walker Ward: Ben Stennett (independent, returning)

Wattle Ward: Andrew Davenport (Liberal, returning)

Full results are available here: https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/2024-local-council-elections/whitehorse-city-council/results

Now that the 2024 Local Government elections have been completed and the successful names confirmed, it is time for communities to get to know the people they have elected.

Being a councillor is a demanding job that carries with it substantial decision-making responsibilities. Success depends on the relationships a councillor is able to develop with the people they represent and on the readiness of the community to work with them.

This is a two-way affair with councillors establishing formal and informal processes to communicate in an open and meaningful way with the residents of their ward. This could include regular ward meetings, and the use of more deliberative consultative methods. In return, it is essential residents keep their councillor aware of what is important to them. This could include attending council meetings and asking questions, participating in reviews and surveys and keeping themselves informed about council matters.

Local Government Elections 2024

To read candidate statements, please go here for Boroondara; and here for  Whitehorse. 

To read our Special Local Government elections edition, click here.

As your local newspaper, we see it as part of our responsibility to help keep our community informed on matters that affect their daily lives. We believe the decisions and actions of our local councils influence many aspects of the way we live.  At the same time, it is important to Eastsider News that we steadfastly remain independent and non-partisan.  As such, we will not promote any individual candidate.

Councils manage huge budgets, supply many essential services, and have access to considerable authority. They choose to pursue a range of priorities that should reflect the priorities of the residents rather than the personal agenda of any particular councillor. The capacity of the people we elect to represent us will determine the quality of the many decisions and actions taken by Council in our name.

We at Eastsider News value democracy at the municipal level of government and believe that every vote matters. The more informed that vote is, the more it contributes to good governance and decision making by our local councils.

Once elected, councillors have considerable authority over a wide range of matters including the nature and quality of services provided, the protection of our local environment, support for local business, the provision of local travel and other infrastructure. Councillors are also in a strong position to advocate for change to State and Federal Government policies and programs.

 

Candidates’ statements

A special edition of Eastsider News was published early in October to give our readers information about the candidates nominating for Boroondara and Whitehorse.  Candidates were asked to supply a candidate statement and a photograph. They were requested to address 5 questions:

  1. Which ward are you standing in?
  2. Why are you standing for Council?
  3. How will you make a difference?
  4. What are your key interests or issues?
  5. Are you a member of a political party, and if so which party?