Ferntree Gully
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Mail Covering the Dandenongs in the Yarra Ranges & Cardinia Shires
5 Tuesday, 1 November, 2016
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Old and the new By Jesse Graham
Yarra Ranges councillors Mike Clarke, Tony Stevenson, Fiona McAllister, Jim Child, Len Cox, Tim Heenan, Richard Higgins and Noel Cliff. 161295 Picture: JESSE GRAHAM funny in regards to elections these days ... but local government councillors are the closest things in grassroots to the people, and that’s what I want to keep in the back of my mind for the next four years. “I want to be the closest as I can to the people - it’s their thoughts, it’s their permission they’ve given me to stand in their place, here, and they’re expecting a lot of big things and I certainly hope to be able to deliver those big
things for them in the next four years.” Cr Heenan’s return comes after being unseated by Maria McCarthy in 2012’s election. Cr Stevenson thanked the officials and postal workers who helped to make the election happen, and said he looked forward to meeting his colleagues in his first week at council. “We live in a fantastic part of the world,” he said. “I think, as a team, we can make
Yarra Ranges an even better place to live, work and play.” Cr Noel Cliff said his return to council was an endorsement of his last term and the work the previous council had done from 2012-'16. “What’s so good is obviously, we’ve done the right thing to be back here,” he said. “And that’s the judge - they put you back - I’m obviously pressing the right buttons.”
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Cr Len Cox said this election win was his 12th so far, and that his result of 62.14 per cent was his best so far. “It’s great to be back,” he said. “I’m really excited about this council - this council is very well-balanced and I think it will work well. “We should have four very good years ahead of us.” To see the full results from the election, visit mailcommunity.com.au.
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SIX of the last term’s Yarra Ranges councillors have been re-elected to their posts and three new faces will join the council, with the Victorian Electoral Commission officially calling the race. The winners of the council election were announced on the VEC’s website over the weekend, before VEC Returning Officer Peter Williams made the official announcement at Lilydale’s council chambers on Monday, 31 October. The results will see three new faces around the council table, with former councillor and mayor Tim Heenan unseating Billanook Ward’s Maria McCarthy with a 742 vote margin after preferences. Former councillor Richard Higgins will be the new councillor for Chirnside Ward, beating incumbent Andrew Witlox by 1002 votes, while Tony Stevenson has been declared the winner of Chandler Ward with a lead of more than 3500 votes over the next candidate. Meanwhile, Streeton Ward councillor Noel Cliff, Walling Ward councillor Len Cox, O’Shannassy Ward councillor Jim Child, Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister, Lyster Ward councillor Mike Clarke and Melba Ward’s Terry Avery, were all re-elected. Cr Clarke, who achieved an absolute majority of his ward’s vote on Friday, 28 October, told the Mail that his election results were a “strong endorsement” of his work since starting after the 2015 by-election. “It’s really good confirmation of a lot of support from the community and I sense that they’re happy with what I’m doing, and happy with what I’m proposing we need to do,” he said. “A big thankyou to all of the people that helped me, and for the confidence from all the voters.” In his victory speech, Cr Heenan acknowledged his fellow candidates, who he said put in “a lot of time and effort” to their campaigns. “My sincere wishes for a great future for the three of them,” he said. “I suppose the most important thing I want to say is Australians are really