NEWS DESK
Bowden bows out before end of term MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Councillor Lynn Bowden has resigned as Watson Ward councillor, citing ongoing health issues as the reason for her decision. “We are all very saddened by Cr Bowden’s decision as she has been a strong supporter and advocate for so many across the peninsula in her time as councillor," the mayor Cr Graham Pittock said. “We will miss her keen intellect, passion and willingness to get behind so many vital projects that have taken shape as a result of Lynn’s involvement.� Her resignation will not trigger a by-election as
it comes just short of six months from the October shire-wide municipal elections. Cr Pittock says he will represent Cr Bowden’s constituents until a new councillor is elected in October. A news release issued by the shire last Wednesday said Cr Pittock would be available to meet residents 9am-noon at a cafe in Eramosa Rd West, Somerville. However, after seeing six people from a waste treatment plant, he left at 10.30 when no one else turned up. Cr Bowden was first elected in 2008 and then re-elected for a second term in 2012, becoming
mayor in November 2012. The former councillor did not respond to calls from The News but is understood to have been spending an increasing amount of time in Western Australia. While in council Ms Bowden was involved with sporting centres and programs for young people. She sought support for older age groups and, in particular, in maintaining accessibility throughout townships, especially for those with motorised scooters or limited mobility. She has served on management committees of Somerville Community House. Stephen Taylor
Lynn Bowden
‘No need’ for by-election - shire Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au
Keeping watch: Ben Loois feels Watson Ward residents are being shortchanged by not having a coucillor of their own. Picture: Supplied
THE timing of Cr Lynn Bowden’s resignation – Monday 2 May – means there is “no need� for a by-election for her Watson ward seat. The mayor Cr Graham Pittock says he will represent her constituents a new Watson Ward councillors is elected in October. “There is no need for a by-election given the time frame,� communications manager Mark Kestigian said. Under the Local Government Act no by-election is required if a councillor resigns within less than six months of the next scheduled municipal elections. Cr Bowden’s resignation came less than two week’s inside the limit. “It would cost at least $100,000 and the new councillor would be semi-functional
for two months without being able to make any decisions,� Cr Pittock said. But two-time candidate Ben Loois, of Tyabb, who sought election for Cerberus ward and then Watson ward in two previous polls, says the ruling ignores the opportunity to provide Cr Watson’s former constituents with direct representation. As the second placed candidate Mr Loois said he should have been installed as Watson Ward’s new councillor. However, local government regulations stipulate that countbacks can occur when the vacancy to be filled is in a multi-councillor ward or unsubdivided municipality, and if there is more than one eligible candidate remaining from the general election who was not elected. Watson Ward is a single councillor ward and the shire is divided into six wards. Mr Loois says he was the runner-up to
Cr Bowden in 2012 and, discussing the result with the VEC at the time, was told: “You don’t know how close you came.� He contacted the VEC last week to discuss the likelihood of his being appointed in the wake of Ms Bowden’s resignation but was told that countback provisions only applied to multi-councillor wards. He believes this aspect of the law is “discriminatory against single councillor wards�. The VEC suggested he take that up with his local MP. Mr Loois says having no councillor “in a single councillor ward with problems of youth and infrastructure� is wrong, and pointed to last week’s devastating fire at Somerville Community & Recreation Centre, allegedly caused by teenagers. Mr Loois says he has “lobbied incessantly for services� in Watson Ward and will stand at the 22 October poll.
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