2020 Darebin City Council West Ward Candidate Statements NOTICE: The contents of candidate statements are provided by the candidates. Any NOTICE: The contents of candidate statements are provided by the candidates. Any NOTICE: The contents of candidate statements are provided by the candidates. Any enquiries about candidate statements should be directed to the relevant candidate. enquiries about candidate statements should be directed to the relevant candidate. enquiries about candidate statements should be directed to the relevant candidate. Candidate statements are not verified or endorsed by the Election Manager. Candidate statements are not verified or endorsed by the Election Manager. Candidate statements are not verified or endorsed by the Election Manager.

KANJERE, George JACKSON, Isabel FONTANA, Samuel Hello neighbors! My name is George, and I live in West Ward with My ambition is for Darebin to be a city that respects and supports Samuel Fontana - a Darebin life saver ready to serve our community my partner and two children, and as a councillor I will fight for the diversity of age, occupation, culture, and economic status. As I have lived in Darebin all my life and attended local schools and rights of everyone in our community. Over development is rampant a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), my ambitions studied a Bachelor of Sports Science at La Trobe University. I am in Darebin. Within our ward I will ensure that we get a fair say in are inspired by the concept of The Light on The Hill. My efforts currently employed as a Senior Recruitment Consultant. I have also any new developments. I will campaign for Edwardes Lake to be will be justified if, as a Councillor, I can ensure that Darebin is a worked in Real Estate in Preston and Reservoir. In my professional properly resourced and to reach its full potential as a beautiful, place that offers a helping hand as needed so that all can feel a life, I have learned how to spot and develop talent and I have seen clean and vibrant public park with well maintained facilities. I will sense of security. I believe that Darebin can provide social and firsthand how the local property market locks out young people. advocate for a path to connect Edwardes Lake to the Merri Creek physical infrastructure for employment, provision of aged and I am passionate about our local area and I have been active in track, thereby connecting us to the rest of the nature trails in community care, support for arts and culture, and maintenance many sporting teams and in youth affairs. While working at the Melbourne. I will campaign for the extension of the 112 tram down of public spaces. Underpinning these goals is the availability of YMCA in Northcote, I saved a patron’s life. I have been involved in Gilbert Road and up Edwardes Street to the station. Within Darebin safe, accessible housing that is suitable for the diversity of needs. many sports clubs playing cricket for Holy Trinity CC, Rosebank I will fight any rates increases, especially at the moment when we Housing should be affordable, supported by social and physical CC & Northern Socials and coached juniors at Northcote JNR FC. are all struggling to survive the impact of Covid19. I will fight to infrastructure, and living arrangements whether for singles or I am a current football player at Preston Bullants FC and I was an save Preston Market from being knocked down and transformed extended families. Darebin should continue to be home to the Assistant Coach for the Womens Premiership team for Preston into a high-rise eyesore. I will demand the proper refurbishment many people contribute to the city through paid employment and Bullants in 2019. With a large extended family, I am keen to ensure of Reservoir Swimming Pool, which up to now has been in a their community engagement. I believe we also have an obligation that Council keeps quality services for our elderly, reduces the rates disgraceful state of disrepair. I will fight for an excellent public to care for those with restricted means. My employment in local burden at this time of crisis, cleans up the pollution at Edwards Park aged care system so that our elders are taken care of with respect government and in tertiary education has demonstrated to me the Lake, maintains the Preston Market and does more to help local and dignity. I will campaign to end the human rights abuses that benefits of diversity in its many forms. It has also given experience young people with jobs & training and housing. As an Independent are happening to the refugees in the Mantra Hotel on Bell Street. responding to expressed and implicit need, identifying resources Candidate who has put the community first in my work and in my I will fight against the destruction of public housing in Darebin, to facilitate change, and working within accepted conventions and spare time, I will work hard to put local residents and traders first. and advocate for more to be built. As a member of the Victorian required guidelines. As a Councillor, I will be committed to quality, We all deserve a council that serves the people, makes rational Socialists I believe that we need to put People Before Profit, and meaningful, consultation for COVID recovery in Darebin through decisions about finances and services, ensures quality open spaces this includes in our local councils. Let’s run our society for ourselves prioritised investment in capital works and practical initiatives that and clean streets, employs local people and local firms and delivers instead of for big business and their politician mates! will also address climate change. These initiatives address the value for money for all local ratepayers. If elected I will serve as a detail of life such as increasing open space and improving existing guardian for local families, businesses and residents. amenity for example in clean and accessible toilets that improve daily life and support broader social and environmental change.

1 2 3 NOTICE: The contents of candidate statements are provided by the candidates. Any NOTICE: The contents of candidate statements are provided by the candidates. Any NOTICE: The contents of candidate statements are provided by the candidates. Any enquiries about candidate statements should be directed to the relevant candidate. enquiries about candidate statements should be directed to the relevant candidate. enquiries about candidate statements should be directed to the relevant candidate. Candidate statements are not verified or endorsed by the Election Manager. Candidate statements are not verified or endorsed by the Election Manager. Candidate statements are not verified or endorsed by the Election Manager.

NEWTON, Susanne TSALKOS, Vasilios MERCURI, John It’s been an honour to be a Councillor for four years and your Deputy Without doubt 2020 has been a challenging year for us all. We need I am contesting this council election and am seeking your support Mayor for the last two. My focus is, and will remain, delivering for someone that is strong, local and an independent voice, without to ensure more accountability and engagement with our community. residents. I seek your support for a second term because we’re in political agendas, to lead and rebuild our community during these I have continually worked with many local groups and businesses one of the most difficult periods our city has ever faced, and we tough times. That person is me. I have been proud to call Darebin’s in Darebin and have the experience to deliver the outcomes need Councillors who will listen to and support the community, West Ward home for the majority of my life. I am a new candidate expected of our residents. I have lived and worked in Darebin all and help us thrive again as we recover. In the last six months, I’ve that is motivated to push forward, to work together, to listen and my life and am proud to promote our multicultural community as turned my full attention to pandemic relief and recovery, delivering provide the community with what it needs. It is time for transparent well as supporting local businesses. I am committed to to further an $11.8 million package to support food relief, family violence governance and its time to get things done. A vote for me is a council rebates to pensioners and support for our vulnerable support and grants to businesses and artists. With your support, I’ll vote for community, small business and local economy recovery, members of our community. Council has increased rates without continue this work as we recover. I’ll support job creation through responsible rates, increased opportunities and services for our justification this year and has caused excessive hardship and I will investment in infrastructure that prioritises local businesses and youth and improved pensioner rebates for all of Darebin. I will introduce a rate freeze to assist those who are struggling. I will suppliers. I commit to fulfill our plan for everyone to have a park represent our West Ward community with support for a feasibility also focus on community safety and ensure that fees to clubs and within 500m of home, and to plant 1.5 million trees, plants and study into the route 11 tram, advocate for improved water quality of community groups are kept to a minimum to ensure their survival grasses in the years ahead. I’ll continue making our city safe for Edwardes Lake and to keep Preston Market in its current location. and viability. Council needs to be more resourceful and get back everyone through lighting upgrades, and safer streets. My record Respect, fairness and your voice are needed on the next Darebin to basics and serve the residents and not the parties who have shows my commitment to our area: opposing planning applications City Council. Let’s place Darebin in the right hands. Vote 1 Vasilios their own agendas. I am supportive of development by not along for the Preston Market and placing a permanent heritage overlay Tsalkos. our neighbour streets when there seems to be little control and over it, convincing state government to remove extra level crossings the character of the area is diminished. If elected, I will push to at Preston and Bell stations, fighting for the number 11 tram set up an independent authority to investigate council’s wasteful extension, beautifying Edwardes Lake, upgrading Reservoir Leisure spending on unnecessary projects such as the proposed paid Centre, and ensuring sports clubs upgrades are prioritised by parking permits for residents. I will also concentrate on spending need. In my first term, we were the first city worldwide to declare our money on essential services and not on wasted projects. I will a climate emergency and take significant action to address it. This reintroduce citizenship ceremonies which this council abolished and work will only become important in the years ahead. With your ensure funding to our major assets such as the Reservoir Leisure support, I will be your champion for West Preston and South West Centre. I will also ensure that better efforts are made by council to Reservoir, working hard for our community every day. I am endorsed preserve the Preston market which could be lost to our city if this by the Victorian Greens. Contact me anytime on 0466 400 778. Vote site becomes an apartment complex. Vote 1 John Mercuri, 2 Samuel 1 Susanne Newton. Fontana and all others as accordingly.

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