By Hamish Heard
SPOTSWOOD Ward councillor and deputy mayor Bill Baarini has firmed as a short-priced favourite to become Hobsons Bay’s next mayor.
Councillors are not due to determine mayor Leigh Hardinge’s successor until a 30 November internal poll, but Cr Baarini is the only one of Hobsons Bay’s seven councillors to confirm interest in the post.
“I’m seriously considering it, but obviously I’ll have to talk to a few people about it first,” Cr Baarini said.
Cr Baarini served two mayoral terms between 2003 and 2004.
One councillor told Star that Cr Baarini, a member of the council’s dominant bloc of Labor-aligned councillors, was a shoo-in for the role.
“I have no doubt whatsoever that Bill Baarini will be the next mayor of Hobsons Bay,” the councillor said.
“It has to be someone from the Labor side and I’m sure that it will be Bill.”
Four of the council’s seven councillors belong to the Labor faction, including councillors Baarini, Mary Ann Lindsay, Carl Marsich and Renee Caruana.
Councillors Lindsay and Caruana ruled out running and said the topic had not been raised between councillors.
However, both agreed Cr Baarini would make a “fine” mayor.
Cr Marsich would not comment on the vote.
“It’s an issue we would only be discussing among ourselves so I have no comment for the Star about that,” Cr Marsich said.
Of the three independents, councillors Peter Hemphill and Angela Altair confirmed they would not throw their hats into the ring.
“I’m not interested, that I can tell you for sure,” Cr Hemphill said.
Cr Hardinge said it would be unfair to speculate over who would replace him as mayor.
“As far as I’m aware there hasn’t been any discussions about it to date and I don’t believe it’s fair to be speculating on what might or might not happen down the track,” Cr Hardinge said.
