A new face has joined Whittlesea council following the Lalor Ward by-election.
Michael Labrador won the by-election, securing 52.43 per cent of votes after the distribution of preferences.
He had finished fourth in the first preference count, with 11.23 per cent of votes.
Long-serving councillor Stevan Kozmevski – who won the October 2024 vote which was voided by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in May – was the second-placed candidate with 47.57 per cent of votes after preferences were distributed.
Mr Kozmevski had secured the highest number of first preference votes (22.27 per cent).
Mr Labrador was sworn in as a councillor on August 13 and will serve as the Lalor Ward councillor for the reminder of the term of council (October 2028).
In his candidate statement submitted to the Victorian Electoral Commission as part of his nomination for the election, Mr Labrador said he would not accept a councillor’s allowance if elected, and would instead donate the money to local charities.
He said he was contesting the election be Lalor was “an afterthought”.
“Since 2020, the Whittlesea council has endured instability from political infighting and mismanagement, culminating in the entire council’s dismissal. Now, in 2025, your vote has been undermined in the recent election, due to suspected fraudulent ballots,” he said in his statement
“I’m running for council to serve, not to gain.
“And I believe that you deserve a councillor whose sole interest is in the hardworking people and families living in Lalor.”
In his statement, he said Lalor “faces real challenges of illegal dumping, neglected community facilities, environmental mismanagement, and weakening community cohesion”.
Whittlesea council said Mr Labrador would participate in the extensive council induction program over the coming weeks.
“We warmly welcome Cr Labrador to the City of Whittlesea and look forward to his contributions to our community,” council said in a statement.
