Poll race surprises

By Tania Martin
YARRA Ranges mayor Tim Heenan has come under fire as the race to the polling booth heats up.
It was recently revealed that his seat of Billanook was the most hotly contested. Councillor Heenan said he was shocked to find more than eight people running against him in the upcoming elections but said he was more than willing to put up a good fight.
Despite some stiff competition, Cr Heenan said it was great to see so many people putting their hand up.
“It’s good to see them stand up and be counted,” he said.
Cr Heenan said it was now all in the hands of the voters.
In Walling Ward, Cr Len Cox has been reinstated unopposed for his ninth-term in local government.
The seasoned campaigner will be entering his fifth term with Yarra Ranges and prior to that had served four years with the former Shire of Lillydale. Cr Cox said it would be interesting to sit back and watch the election race unfold.
“Its always a surprise to be unopposed…In the shire we have 150,000 people and you always think at least one would run against you,” he said.
“But in some ways it’s nice because I don’t have to run around doing all that election work.”
Cr Cox said he was looking forward to serving the people of Walling again.
He said it was also exciting with the first four-year term of local government being introduced this year.
Kallista resident environmentalist Jo Tenner is also putting her hand up and will challenge Cr Graham Warren for the seat of Chandler. Streeton Ward’s Noel Cliff is running for his third consecutive term with some stiff competition including Upwey-Belgrave RSL member Rob Ferguson.
Greens Party member and incumbent Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn has been challenged for her seat with four others vying for job. Meanwhile, in the Cardinia Shire, incumbents Graeme Legge and Ed Chatwin will fight for their Ranges Ward seats against Emerald’s Linda Hamilton.