Candidates for Local Government Elections Announced

The candidates are:

·         Mayoral Election: Mrs Pam Neesham; Ms Katy Mair; Cr June Barton; Mayor Russell Aubrey

·         Applecross - Mt Pleasant Ward: Mr Terry Lee and Cr Nick Pazolli 

·         Bicton Attadale Ward: Mr James Versteegen and Mrs Suzanne Taylor-Rees

·         Bull Creek - Leeming Ward: Mr Robert Willis and Cr Rasa Subramaniam

·         Three candidates were elected unopposed: Deputy Mayor Mark Reynolds (University Ward); Mr Duncan McPhail (City Ward) and Mr Richard Hill (Palmyra-Melville-Willagee Ward).

CEO Dr Shayne Silcox said, “Local government elections are held every two years on the third Saturday in October. At each biennial election, half of the City of Melville Councillors (one from each ward) are elected for terms of four years. The Mayor is elected by the electors of the City for a four year term.”

“Now the all-important candidates have been announced, I encourage voters to become familiar with these names because elected representatives play an important role in the way our community unfolds. By voting in the local government elections, you have greater influence over your neighbourhood - the greater the voter turnout, the more representative the result will be.

“Of course, as always during an election campaign, the City cannot support or endorse one candidate over another. However, I do urge voters to participate in the City of Melville local government elections and have their say!”

The City of Melville is represented by a Mayor and 12 Councillors who act for the six wards for four year terms. The Mayor is elected by the community and the Deputy Mayor is elected by Councillors. The Mayor speaks on behalf of the City of Melville and liaises with the Chief Executive Officer on the affairs and performance of the City.

Anyone who resides in the City of Melville and is enrolled to vote in Western Australia, on the State or Commonwealth electoral roll, is entitled to vote.

Election packages will be posted to all voters on the City of Melville roll commencing from 23 September 2011. The packages can be returned by reply paid mail or hand delivered and placed in the sealed ballot box at the City of Melville Civic Centre, 10 Almondbury Road, Booragoon, up until 6.00pm on election day Saturday, 15 October 2011. The count commences at 6.00pm that same day and the results will be announced later that evening.

The 2011 elections will be conducted by the Western Australian Electoral Commission and held under a ‘first past the post’ voting system, whereby the candidate with the highest vote wins. A Commission appointed Returning Officer will oversee the election, including taking candidate nominations, and supervising the count on election night.

Those Councillors who did not stand for re-election in 2011 are: Councillor Tony Ceniviva (City Ward); Councillor Guy Wieland (Bicton – Attadale Ward); Councillor Christine Halton (Palmyra – Melville – Willagee Ward).

For further information and candidate details click here or contact 1300 635 845.

Further information can also be obtained from the Western Australian Electoral Commission's website or by phoning 13 63 06.