By ALESHA CAPONE
A MAJORITY of four women will take their seat on a new look Hobsons Bay Council following last weekend’s municipal election.
Three men lost their seat on the council, including former Mayor’s Bill Tehan and Michael Raffoul and Deputy Mayor John Hogg.
The new faces on the council include independents Sandra Wilson and Colleen Gates and Labor candidate Paul Morgan.
They will join incumbents Tony Briffa, Peter Hemphill, Angela Altair and Luba Grigorovitch.
The provisional results were announced by the Victoria Electoral Commission on Sunday night, with the final results to be confirmed by Friday.
In the Cherry Lake Ward former mayor Tony Briffa will be joined by first-timer, independent Sandra Wilson.
Although previous councillor John Hogg received 16.17 per cent of first preference votes, Ms Gates triumphed with 11.27 per cent, thanks to preferences.
When Star contacted the new councillors many said the new Hobsons Bay team would be “community-minded”.
The previous council often made headlines for infighting among some members.
“I think you won’t see all these funny games being played under the new council,” Mr Hemphill said.
“I’m elated not just for myself but to be able to work with a very good team of existing and news councillors and also by the fact that for the first time we have a majority of women on council.”
After more than 13 years on council Ms Altair said she was “absolutely humbled” and vowed not to let her constituents down.
“As far as I’m concerned we can put the past behind us, make a fresh start and justify the trust and support put in us by the community,” she said.
Ms Grigorovitch said having four women on the council was “making history”.
“It’s a very exciting new dynamic team I genuinely believe will have the community’s best interests at heart,” she said.
However Mr Morgan said his biggest fear about being a first-time councillor was the possibility there could be “big clashes of personalities as in previous councils”.
“I’m focused on the basics like fixing roads, fixing parks, fixing footpaths and rejuvenating the local shopping areas,” he said.
But fellow newcomers Ms Gates and Ms Wilson were more optimistic.
“I really enjoyed running for council, meeting new people and finding out about their problems, which I would like to continue” Ms Gates said.
“As a very community-minded person I can’t wait to get to there and start feeling my way as a new councillor,” Ms Wilson said.
