By Parker McKenzie
Wil Mikelsons is the endorsed Greens candidate for the Streeton Ward by-election.
As a teacher living in Launching Place, Mr Mikelsons said he is running for council because he wants to make a difference.
“I want to help people and have some influence over how the direction the council takes in their deliberations,” he said.
“I want to serve our community.”
Mr Mikelsons has been a part of the Greens Party for 13 years and has been working in schooling and education for 38 years, currently as an emergency relief teacher.
He said he become a teacher because it is a caring profession where he can help students.
“It’s been a long journey, but one that’s been satisfying to me having worked in schooling,” he said.
“I’ve worked in what’s called a community school, for students that are at risk or have dropped out of the system, so trying to give them an opportunity to get an education as well.”
Mr Mikelsons said his goals if elected are to support residents of the Dandenong Ranges through issues like storm recovery, protecting the green wedge zones from over-development and retaining local character.
“In the mid 1970s when the government put together the Yarra Valley Authority it was a great thing, because it protected the environmental values of this area and we’ve got all the green wedge and protection zones,” he said.
“As a Greens candidate I want to advance a liveability climate plan and try to do as much as we can to move towards a carbon neutral municipality.”
The by-election will take place in February, with ballots to be distributed through post to registered voters between Tuesday 1 February and Thursday 3 February, before voting closes on Friday 18 February 2022.
Saturday 19 February has been prescribed as Election Day by the VEC, with Monday 28 February 2022 the latest date all results will be declared.
12,415 Victorians were enrolled in Streeton Ward at the last council election in 2020, which includes Upwey, Sassafras and Olinda.
