By Vanessa Chircop
COULD former Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) president and Hobsons Bay councillor Brad Matheson be making a come-back to public life?
That’s the rumour on everyone’s lips since his appointment to the Urban Planning and Development Advisory Group (UPDAG) last week.
Despite the chinwagging, Mr Matheson told Star at this stage he was not considering running for council at next year’s election but had left the door open for speculation.
“Never say never,” he said.
“But my motives to join UPDAG is not about the council election next year.
“I’ve always had an interest in planning … I want to assist where I can.”
The former mayor of Hobsons Bay quit public life in 2004 amid controversy surrounding letters he wrote to a local newspaper in the name of residents which he sent from his personal email.
In spite of this Mr Matheson has denied any wrong-doing.
“I maintained at the time of my resignation as I do now that I wrote letters on behalf of residents (with their knowledge and consent) as they were not able to do so,” he said.
“At no time have I said otherwise.
“My actions at the time were not illegal or immoral.”
Despite this, Mr Matheson’s appointment to UPDAG didn’t please everyone.
Cr Peter Hemphill voted against the decision saying Mr Matheson’s appointment would send the wrong message to the community – a statement that prompted Cr Bill Tehan to yell “shut up” at his fellow councillor.
Another resident, Sarah Hill, was also voted into the group last week.
