NEWS DESK
Cunial mayor amid peace talk Continued from Page 1 Cr Cunial noted councillors needed to unite for the greater good of Frankston and should put political differences aside to ensure the region gets the best deal possible from state and federal governments since elections for both levels of government will be held during the new council term. “There is much to be done and success will only be achieved if we work together.” Council CEO Dennis Hovenden passed on “congratulations from all council staff” to Cr Cunial on his election as mayor for the second time. He was previously mayor in 2012. “You’re always willing to ask the hard questions and challenge the staff and so it should be and you do it always in the best interests of the community,” Mr Hovenden said at last Monday’s meeting. Cr Cunial, a serving Victoria Police officer for more than 30 years, was first elected to council in 2008 and is married to wife Diana. They have three adult children and two grandchildren. Fellow councillors nodded – and in Cr Colin Hampton’s case, blew kisses – to supportive husbands, wives, partners and family members in the public gallery when making speeches after being sworn in. Cr Lillian O’Connor thanked her partner Michelle for her support during the council elections campaign. Cr Kris Bolam praised his father Darren for delivering 12,000 pamphlets during the run-up to polling day.
New era: Frankston councillors Glenn Aitken, left, Quinn McCormack, Michael O’Reilly, Lillian O’Connor, Kris Bolam, Sandra Mayer, Brian Cunial, Colin Hampton and Steve Toms look ahead to a promised harmonious four-year council term.
“My father had a workplace accident many years ago. He broke both his legs, both his arms, he was a mess. But he managed to get around the ward and deliver those pamphlets.” Councillors unanimously voted for Cr Steve Toms to be deputy mayor. While there is no extra remuneration involved in being deputy mayor, the incumbent can be called upon to chair public council meetings and speak at events in the mayor’s absence. “I sit here as a proudly openly gay man and proud resident of Frankston,” Cr Toms said in his ac-
ceptance speech after taking the oath of office as a councillor. Councillors rubber stamped their remuneration at the meeting for the upcoming 12 months agreeing they be paid $28,907 each plus 9.5 per cent superannuation. The mayor will be paid $92,333 over 12 months. All nine of Frankston’s 2012-16 councillors, representing three regional wards, stood for re-election last month. Five were re-elected alongside four new councillors. North-East ward councillors are Sandra Mayer (re-elected), Michael O’Reilly (re-elected) and Colin
Hampton (re-elected). North-West ward councillors are Kris Bolam, Lillian O’Connor and Glenn Aitken (re-elected). South ward councillors are Brian Cunial (re-elected), Quinn McCormack and Steve Toms. Cr Cunial’s election as mayor last week was the first time in three years councillors were publicly unanimous in their choice of councillor. Split public votes to elect Sandra Mayer (2014) and James Dooley (2015) as mayor were the precursor to infighting between councillors during those mayoral terms.
A HASTINGS man discovered sleeping in a car in a quiet lane off Olivers Hill last week, was one of the Mornington Peninsula’s “most wanted men”. The 25-year-old, accompanied by a woman, was seen by a passerby in what turned out to be a stolen Mercedes sedan about 7am, Tuesday 8 November. Frankston police who responded found a rifle in the car which was allegedly stolen from a Somerville property on 31 October. Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Drake, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, described the man as one of the peninsula’s “most wanted”. The man was later charged with 40 offences, including multiple burglaries in which up to eight firearms were taken, theft of cars and theft from cars. His haul included a $114,000 Toyota Sahara, which has since been recovered, and a 5.3-metre boat and trailer, stolen from a Hastings property, which is still missing. Detective Drake said police had “been looking for the man for a long while”. He said several vehicles and other stolen items had since been recovered from the man’s house. The man has been remanded in custody to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court, Thursday 8 December. Stephen Taylor
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Police nab peninsula’s ‘most wanted’
Frankston Times 14 November 2016
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