By Parker McKenzie
Replacing James Merlino’s 20 years of experience in state parliament is a daunting task, but it is one Labor candidate for Mobulk Daniela De Martino is acutely aware of.
During the time she has spent canvassing the suburbs within the electorate, people have let her know just how big the shoes she is aiming to fill are.
“I’ve known James for a very long time and he’s a dear friend,” Ms De Martino said.
“I handed out all of his how-to-vote cards on Election Day; I’ve been doing that for years and scrutineering.”
Ms De Martino, who joined the Labor Party in the 1990s as a student, said she decided to sell her organic supermarket earlier in the year and run for politics because she knew she had the time and energy to give it her all.
“I grew up in a Labor family. They weren’t politically active but politics was always discussed around the family table, my dad was a small business owner as well,” she said.
“Those values, the Labor Party values of social justice were imbued in me from a very early age.”
After Mr Merlino announced his retirement in June this year, she was chosen as the candidate for Monbulk by the federal Labor branch — after being the only person to put themselves forward — in an arrangement put in place after the discovery of branch stacking within Victorian Labor.
Replacing a local member of 20 years is a daunting task, though Ms De Martino believes she is capable of meeting the high water mark set by her “mentor”.
“I believe bars should be set high and that’s what I would aim to achieve,” she said.
“If I’m elected, I would want to have that same level of impact that he’s had as a local member.”
With boundary changes to the Monbulk electorate announced ahead of the 2022 state election, there are now people whose approval Mr Merlino never had to win in places like Gembrook, Cockatoo, Emerald and parts of Ferntree Gully, but will now cast their votes in November.
Ms De Martino said between now and the election she would be out in the public “trying to get around to all the different pockets,” and connecting with her potential constituents.
“It’s getting out to all the different areas and even just educating them that the boundaries have changed, that they’re coming into the seat of Monbulk,” she said.
The 44-year-old mother of two currently resides in Croydon — just outside the Monbulk electorate border — and said she isn’t a single issue candidate, listing education, small business and workers’ rights, the environment and aged care as key issues she wants to advocate for.
“I have a union background, I worked for the retailer’s union and then became a retailer, it’s vitally important that employees are treated well,” she said.
“Especially those in the lowest paid jobs out there working retail, fast food and hospitality. They really need good employers.
“It’s vital that we take care of our ecosystem harmoniously as well because we’re still living in it.”
Finally, Ms De Martino said she hopes to work as hard for Monbulk and the state of Victoria as her predecessor has.
“I will work hard and I’ll work with everyone,” she said.
“You’ve got to be collaborative, it is key in trying to create effective change and doing things well.”
The state election will be held on Saturday 26 November.
