By Dean Lawson

Penny Flynn tops a candidate ballot draw in preparation for what looms as one of the most dramatic changes in Horsham Rural City Council community governance for many years.

David Bowe is next in line, followed by Claudia Haenel, Ian Ross, Robyn Gulline, Brian Basham, Les Power, Robert Redden and Di Bell.

The list means that after voters go to the polls in local government elections next month, first-time councillors will fill six of the seven seats in Horsham chambers.

Only one member of the previous Horsham council, Les Power, has nominated for another four-year term.

Elections are set to occur in most Wimmera-Mallee municipalities. 

Some people will fill vacancies unopposed and some councils need by-elections to fill vacant seats.

Ararat Rural City Council has the region’s hottest contested seats with yesterday’s cut-off for statewide municipal candidates showing 12 people standing for seven vacant seats.

The list includes councillors seeking re-election, including mayor Jo Armstrong, and a group of new candidates.

Topping its ballot draw is Jane Goninon followed by William Waterston, Henry Burridge, Bob Sanders, Colin McKenzie, Bernardine Atkinson, Jo Armstrong, Gwenda Allgood, Rob Armstrong, Peter Beales, Cecilia Fresle and Neil Manning. 

Victorians will vote by post in this year’s local government elections. 

The Victorian Electoral Commission will mail ballot packs to enrolled voters from October 6 to 8 and people must have their votes in the mail or hand-delivered to relevant election offices by 6pm on October 23.

The commission will finalise results on November 13.

In Northern Grampians Shire, which has four wards, Lauren Dempsey, Robert Haswell and Murray Emerson will fill three vacant Stawell Ward seats.

Kevin Erwin fills the sole vacancy in Central Ward and Tony Driscoll and Karen Hyslop fill two Kara Kara Ward vacancies.

South West Ward, one vacancy, has no candidates, representing a failed election and a need for a subsequent by-election.

Some Yarriambiack Shire residents have an election to consider.

Dunmunkle Ward has Corinne Heintze and Tom Hamilton to fill its two vacancies.

Hopetoun Ward has three candidates in ballot draw order, Shane Roberts, Andrew McLean and Chris Lehmann,  contesting two vacancies, and again in ballot-draw order, Karly Kirk, Carol Wilson, Kylie Zanker and Graeme Massey contesting three Warracknabeal Ward seats.

Hindmarsh Shire Council, with three wards, has Debra Nelson to fill one of two vacancies in East Ward. A by-election is required to fill the other vacancy.

Sharon Maloney tops the election ballot paper in North Ward, which has two seats up for grabs. Next are Ronald Lowe, Ron Ismay and Brett Ireland.

An election is also essential to fill two West Ward vacancies with Wendy Bywaters at the top of the ballot followed by Rob Gersch and Melanie Albrecht.

West Wimmera Shire Council will also be subject to an election with six candidates for its five council positions.

Topping the ballot is Jodie Pretlove, followed by Bruce Meyer, Tom Houlihan, Tim Meyer, Trevor Domaschenz and Richard Hicks.

In Buloke Shire, there will be an election for Lower Avoca Ward’s two vacancies with Carolyn Stewart, Kelvin Getley and David Pollard nominating for seats.

Alan Getley and David Vis fill two Mallee Ward vacancies and Daryl Warren, Graeme Milne and Bronwyn Simpson fill three Mount Jeffcott Ward seats unopposed.

The entire September 23, 2020 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!