By NATALIE GALLENTI
THE stage is set for a bitter Melton City Council election later this month.
With a staggering 72 candidates, the second highest in Victoria, allegations of “dummy” nominations and branch-stacking have been rife, with one disillusioned candidate vowing she would never run again.
“It was a real eye-opener,” the first-time Cambridge Ward candidate said.
“There are a lot of factions out there. It’s the quickest way to get into the same kind of problem Brimbank had.
“I think the incumbent councillors are only interested in furthering their self-importance and political careers.”
A group of candidates have questioned the motives of a husband and wife and a mother and daughter running for council.
“A husband and wife running is a huge concern. What if they both get voted in? Two councillors living in the one house…what will happen then?” one candidate told Star.
“I believe families will start to monopolise local council.”
The candidate, who is also running in the Cambridge Ward, claimed there were only five legitimate contenders for the Ward, with the remaining 17 “dummy” candidates.
Current councillor and candidate Kathy Majdlik, whose husband is running in Watts Ward, said there was no place in local government for personal gain.
She said her husband Andrew was approached by various community groups asking him to nominate.
Another current councillor and Coburn candidate Sophie Ramsey said both her daughters decided to nominate, for Watts and Cambridge Wards respectively, because of ongoing issues in the area.
Ms Ramsey said she has felt the brunt of slurs and ridicule by other candidates and dismissed allegations of branch-stacking.
“My girls saw who was running in the other wards and decided to nominate. I tried to talk them out of it, but they want to give it a shake. My greatest wish is that they didn’t nominate but who am I to stand in their way?”
Many candidates also raised concerns that residents were unaware that the election will be conducted via postal voting.
“People are going to turn up to local schools and there will be no one there and they will probably throw out any ballot papers thinking it’s junk mail,” one Watts Ward candidate said.
