Group stands by their man

RATEPAYERS’ group the Knox Reform Coalition has continued to stand by Dobson Ward candidate Andrew Higgs in the lead up to Knox City Council elections.
Mr Higgs, a delegate for the Victorian division of the Liberal Party, has been embroiled in an ongoing public dispute with senior members of the party.
The Age newspaper reported last week that Mr Higgs was facing expulsion from the party following allegations that he breached party rules.
KRC chairman Richard Thomas denied the allegations would affect Knox voters’ perception of Mr Higgs as a potential councillor.
“(The allegations) relate only to (Mr Higgs’s) actions within the Liberal Party and are in any event unproved.
“No allegations have been made against Andrew Higgs that are relevant to his capacity to be an effective councillor,” Mr Thomas said.
Mr Higgs failed to respond to the Mail’s questions about how publicity of his public spat with the Victorian Liberal Party may have affected his campaign.
According to Mr Thomas, the KRC’s wider expectations of success remained high ahead of Saturday’s elections.
Mr Thomas said candidates reported being very well received in their campaigning and that many residents had said it was time for change.
“There is dissatisfaction over the high cost of running council and the arrogance of some current councillors.”
“A lot of people feel they are paying more and more but not getting anything more in the way of useful services,” he said.
But Mr Thomas said it would take a crystal ball to predict the outcome.
“Whether the candidate we are supporting will be successful in any particular ward is in the hands of the voters.