Ten Whittlesea councillors have signed their names to a statement “clarifying” that comments made by mayor Aidan McLindon during his Werribee by-election campaign are his personal views.
As reported by Star Weekly, Cr McLindon is contesting the by-election on a platform of policies he says will help shine a spotlight on issues impacting Whittlesea.
Among them is a push for a minute’s silence to be observed on Australia Day. He plans to try-out his idea at the Commercial Hotel in Werribee on January 26.
Whittlesea’s 10 other councillors – deputy mayor Daniela Zinni and councillors Lawrie Cox, Christine Stow, Martin Taylor, Jarrod Lappin, David Lenberg, Deb Gunn, Blair Colwell, Stevan Kozmevski and Nic Brooks – issued a statement on Friday, January 24, distancing the council from comments made by Cr McLindon during the by-election campaign.
“We acknowledge that our mayor, Cr McLindon, has chosen to stand for a by-election in Werribee. This is his democratic right as an elector in the State of Victoria,” the councillors said.
“Any comments made by Mr McLindon as a candidate during this period are his own personal views and do not represent the position of council, councillors and/or the City of Whittlesea.
“Council policy is adopted collectively by a majority of councillors sitting as council and not by any one individual councillor.
“Only official statements issued by the City of Whittlesea should be regarded as the council’s official policy position(s).”
Cr McLindon initially told Star Weekly that he would not be stepping down as mayor for the duration of the by-election campaign.
However, he has since advised council chief executive Craig Lloyd that he would take personal leave from noon on January 23 to 11.59pm on February 8.
In a statement on Wednesday, January 22, Mr Lloyd advised that Cr Zinni would “assume the mayoral responsibilities” during this period.
