Casey mayor Kevin Bradford.By Jim Mynard
EDRINGTON Ward councillor and Liberal candidate for Narre Warren North Mick Morland said he would take leave of absence from council meetings during the state election campaign.
He said this in response to a call from Victorian Local Government Association (VLGA) chief executive Andrew Rowe that election candidates should not attend council meetings during the campaign.
Mr Rowe said state election candidates who remained in office for that period would be acting in their own interest rather than that of the community.
“They would also be open to accusation that any action they took would be motivated by other considerations,” he said.
Cr Morland said this was an acceptable request and something he supported.
He said, however, that he would still be available to look after his ward constituents if they had important issues during that time.
“I can still work with my ward partner Cr Brian Hetherton if something important to residents arises and needs to be dealt with.
“That is one benefit from having dual councillors in a ward.
“We can cope with these things.”
Cr Morland said it was “not on” that a candidate be able to make political gain from the council table during the election campaign.
He said also that it was common sense to stand down because it would allow candidates to concentrate on the campaign.
“I will be doing that but will not abandon Edrington Ward residents,” he said.
Casey mayor Kevin Bradford said he warned against politics in council when he first became mayor.
He said there was no problem with the council lobbying the government on issues as long as it was not one sided.
“If it is, the issue loses its focus,” he said.
Cr Bradford said he didn’t think, however, there was a need to go so far as a candidate who was a councillor or mayor standing down.
“But residents would probably not appreciate a candidate sitting on the council during the campaign.
“They do not appreciate councillors using that time as a stage to get a place in government,” he said.
Nominations close for the Saturday 25 November election on Thursday 9 November.
Voter rolls close on Tuesday 7 November and the closing day for postal votes is Thursday 23 November.
