Former Hume mayor Casey Nunn is the latest councillor to announce that she won’t be contesting the election.
Cr Nunn, who became the city’s youngest mayor when she was elected to the council’s top job for 2013-14, announced her decision to step down from council at the October 22 poll after accepting a new job with Emergency Management Victoria.
In a farewell video posted to Facebook, Cr Nunn said she had intended to contest the election but the new opportunity was “just too good to refuse” and would give her the opportunity to help more people.
The Aitken ward councillor, who was elected in 2012, listed the planned upgrade to DS Aitken Reserve, the construction of the Hume Tennis and Community Centre and the Newbury Child and Community Centre and the extension of Aitken Boulevard among her proudest achievements.
“It has been a great four years. I am very confident I have left my community a better place,” she said.
“I can’t tell you how much this opportunity has meant to me.”
Fellow Hume councillors Helen Patsikatheodorou, Jack Ogilvie and Vic Dougall will also not contest the election.
Forty-seven candidates have thrown their hat in the ring for the Hume election, with close to half the candidates standing for Aitken ward where there are four vacancies.
Fourteen people have nominated for the four positions in Meadow Valley ward, while Jacksons Creek voters have 13 candidates from which to chose.
At Whittlesea, councillors Adrian Spinelli and Rex Griffin will not be seeking re-election, while 36 people have nominated. Voters in Whittlesea’s north ward will have eight people to chose from to fill three positions.
There are 12 candidates vying for four positions in the south-east ward and 16 people will contest four vacancies in south-west ward.
Postal elections will be held next month for both councils, with ballot packs sent out to voters from October 4-6.
Ballot packs need to be completed and returned by 6pm on Friday, October 21, when voting closes. Packs can also be returned to the Whittlesea election office at Waterlily room, Council offices, 25 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang, or to the Hume election office, Broadmeadows Town Hall, 1079 Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows. Both offices are open 9am-5pm on week days.
Full candidates list: www.vec.vic.gov.au
