A Whittlesea council candidate arrested last week for allegedly vandalising posters of his opponents has vowed to continue his campaign for election.
South-east ward candidate John Fry was arrested by police at University Hill, Bundoora, last Friday after being restrained by a member of the public.
He was charged with criminal damage and bailed to face court at a later date.
Mr Fry, who served on council for 21 years before losing office at the 2012 election, told
Star Weekly the charge would not stop him contesting the election.
The four-time mayor said he did not think his arrest and the criminal damage charge would harm his chances of winning a seat on council.
According to his candidate statement, Mr Fry is seeking re-election on a ‘no corruption’ platform.
“I have always said you have got to stand up against injustice and if you’re going to stand up, you have to take the consequences,” he said.
Mr Fry said he spray-painted ‘RAT’ on the posters, believing the candidates were misleading voters.
“If you are going to be lying to the voters in the area … people have a right to know,” he said.
According to the Victorian Electoral Commission, Mr Fry is free to continue his campaign.
The Local Government Act prohibits a person from serving on a council if they are convicted of an offence which is punishable by imprisonment for two or more years,
regardless of how long the person is sentenced for.
Photographs of Mr Fry’s arrest were posted on Facebook last Friday by Cr Ricky Kirkham.
In one photo, Mr Fry is kneeling on the ground with an aerosol can next to him, while another shows him being put in a police van.
