Outgoing Melton Mayor Justin Mammarella’s will not contest the next election.
By NATALIE GALLENTI
A TOTAL of seventy-two candidates will contest this month’s Melton City Council election – the second highest in the state.
Bbut in a shock move the municipality’s longest serving Mayor will not seek re-election.
When nominations closed last week Melton City Council finished with what is believed to be a record for the municipality. It had the second highest number of candidates in Victoria behind Casey City Council which had 85 nominees.
At the last council election in 2008 there were only 34 candidates nominated while a total of 58 put their hands up in 2004, according to the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC).
The VEC received 22 nominations for Cambridge Ward which has only two vacancies, while 30 candidates will run in Coburn Ward (three vacancies), and 20 in Watts Ward (two vacancies). Almost half the candidates are women.
A number of Rockbank landowners have put their hand up, while families have banded together to take on neighbouring wards.
Most candidates told Star they would fight to keep rates low, improve infrastructure, transport services and traffic congestion to meet the demands of the growing municipality.
While there was a strong push to advocate for a 24-hour hospital and 24-hour police station in Caroline Springs.
But outgoing Mayor Justin Mammarella’s decision to step away from local politics after eight years and two mayoral terms has left heads spinning.
The longest serving Melton mayor told Star he had delivered on all of his pre-election promises in his two terms and was now ready to hang up his boots and “give someone else a go”.
“I have achieved what I wanted to achieve and I worked very hard for my residents,” he said.
“Having achieved status as a city is the note I wanted to leave on.”
Mr Mammarella said the astounding number of candidates left him questioning their motives and hoped the next council would continue to advocate on behalf of the community, including the push for a 24-hour hospital.
“I just wonder how many will be able to engage the community. Do they know what it takes?
“I would like to see how many run a genuine campaign. What we want are people who are serious about representing the community.”
While he has said goodbye to local government, it seems Mr Mammarella has his sights set on a career in state politics with a source telling Star he had significant support within the Victorian Labor Party.
Mr Mammarella remained coy about his future prospects.
“Whatever is in store for me in the future I’m sure I’ll adapt to.”
