By Laura Michell
Thirty-one candidates, including a Whittlesea councillor, have nominated for the state election across Whittlesea and Hume’s five electorates.
Thomastown voters will have the greatest choice with nine candidates contesting the seat. It is held by Labor MP Bronwyn Halfpenny by a margin of 28.4 per cent, making it the safest Labor seat in the state.
Among the candidates is Whittlesea councillor Alahna Desiato, who is standing as an independent. Cr Desiato said she was contesting the election because she wanted to make a positive change.
Thomastown’s other candidates are the Animal Justice Party’s Tess Nagorka-Tsindos, Ms Halfpenny, the Reason Party’s David Thirkettle-Watts, independent Ibrahim Saba, Liberal Gurdawar Singh, Victorian Socialists’ Kath Larkin, the Greens’ Cynthia Smith, and independent Nikola Stavreski.
In Yan Yean, the candidates who are contesting the marginal seat held by Labor MP Danielle Green are: Australian Liberty Alliance’s Siobhan Brown; Labour DLP’s Arthur Bablis; independent Munish Bansal; Ms Green; Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party’s David Snelling; The Greens’ Hugh McKinnon and independent Yassin Akram Albarri.
Meralyn Klein was disendorsed by the Liberal Party last week after being forced to resign. She will now stand as an independent.
Five candidates are contesting the safe seat of Mill Park: Animal Justice Party’s Marcia Simons, incumbent Labor MP Lily D’Ambrosio, Victorian Socialists’ Nicholas Reich, Liberal Lakhwinder Singh, and the Greens’ Alexander Edwards.
Yuroke will be contested by five candidates: Independent Golda Zogheib, the Greens’ Louise Sampson, Victorian Socialists’ Emma Dook, incumbent Labor MP Ros Spence, and Liberal Jim Overend.
The Broadmeadows electorate will be contested by four candidates: Incumbent Labor MP Frank McGuire, Victorian Socialists’ Jerome Small, the Greens’ Sheriden Tate, and Liberal Jenny Dow.
MORE NORTHERN ELECTION NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/news/labor-pledges-new-bus-from-craigieburn-to-mernda-via-wollert/
www.starweekly.com.au/news/police-to-open-shop-at-craigieburn-central-if-coalition-wins-election/
