By Ann Marie Angebrandt and Candice Boyle
CITY of Maribyrnong councillor Janet Rice has entered the race to contest the seat of Williamstown in the forthcoming by-election.
Cr Rice began her campaign as the Greens candidate in Yarraville on the weekend following the announcement last week by Steve Bracks that he was quitting politics.
Cr Rice joined main contenders for the seat, Hobsons Bay councillor Bill Baarini, and Wyndham councillor Henry Barlow.
Cr Rice said the task to win the seat, held by the Labor Party for more than a century, would be a challenge but “achievable”.
If successful, Cr Rice would be required to resign from her position as Saltwater ward councillor and the council would hold a by-election to fill her position.
Cr Rice said that her involvement in finding solutions for issues currently affecting Yarraville residents would be carried over into her election campaign.
Transport, truck traffic in Yarraville, the Yarraville Community Centre and channel deepening will be issues she would tackle during her campaign.
Yarraville is one of the 10 suburbs included in the Williamstown electorate and comprises of around one third of the voters.
The Greens received 12 per cent of the Williamstown primary vote in 2006, and 10 per cent in 2002.
Cr Rice said she would draw on the “goodwill” people have for the Greens.
“They know we are straight talking, hardworking and working for their future,” she said.
Cr Rice has been a councillor for more than four years, is Metropolitan Transport Forum chair, Victorian Local Governance Association vice-president, and a founding member of the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group.
Cr Rice’s likely main opposition will be either Cr Baarini and Cr Barlow.
Cr Baarini, former Newport ALPbranch president, could not confirm he was seeking pre-selection until his branch held an urgent meeting, expected this week.
Cr Barlow said he has received “mixed, but mostly positive” feedback after he declared he would stand for pre-selection.
The right-hand man to Industry Minister Theo Theophanous said it would be fitting he get the nod after he stepped aside last year for former Bracks’ chief of staff, Tim Pallas, in the seat of Tarneit.
However, the ALPnational executive is just as likely to name a high profile outsider the Williamstown electorate is used to such as Planning Minister Justin Madden.
Other names for the seat are Health Services Union secretary Kathy Jackson, and Darebin councillor Diana Asmar.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Party, which secured 24 per cent of the Williamstown vote after preferences in both the 2006 and 2002 elections, announced last week it would not contest the seat in order to save resources for the federal election later this year.
The government has 30 days from the resignation of the former premier to declare a by-election date.
The earliest date would be the end of this month but insiders say a September by-election is most likely.
