A BY-ELECTION will be held Saturday 23 August to fill the vacancy on Mornington Peninsula Shire Council created by the resignation of Cr Frank Martin.
The outcome of a postal ballot will decide the new councillor for the Red Hill ward position held by Cr Martin for the past six years.
Cr Martin resigned in May due to recent poor health. He was first elected in 2008 and served as mayor in 2011/12.
The Red Hill ward – established in 2004 as part of the shire’s amalgamation – and includes Red Hill, Red Hill South, Main Ridge, Balnarring Beach, Somers, Merricks Beach, Merricks, Point Leo. Shoreham, Flinders, Fingal Cape Schanck, St Andrews Beach, Boneo, Fingal and HMAS Cerberus.
Nominations open Thursday 17 July and candidates who indicated they will stand by the start of this week are Joe Lenzo, of Safety Beach, and Dr Mark Fancett, vice-president of the Peninsula Preservation Group which last year successfully fought against a council-backed plan for a quarry on Arthurs Seat to be used as a tip.
Mr Lenzo, a critic of council’s plan for an aquatic centre on the foreshore of Rosebud and the reappointment of CEO Dr Michael Kennedy, is making his third attempt to gain a council seat.
Nominations for the vacancy close Tuesday 22 July, with ballot papers being mailed out in the first week in August to be returned by 6pm Friday 22 August.
Residents of Red Hill Ward who have recently turned 18, or who need to update their enrolment information, should fill out an enrolment form and return it to the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) by mail, scanned email, fax, or in person no later than 4pm on Friday 27 June.
Enrolment forms are available on the VEC website at vec.vic.gov.au as well as at any post office, Centrelink or Australian Electoral Commission office.
Alternatively, residents can enrol or update their address using the online application available at vec.vic.gov.au with no need for paper forms.
There are also enrolment categories for occupiers who have no other voting entitlements in the municipality (such as shop tenants), company nominees and non-Australian citizens who pay rates and want to vote. For further details, call Mornington Peninsula Shire on 5950 1370.
Enrolment details can be checked by contacting the VEC on 131 832 or, during business hours from Monday 23 June to 4pm on Friday 27 June, at shire offices 21 Marine Parade, Hastings, 2 Queen St, Mornington, 90 Besgrove St, Rosebud or Somerville Recreation and Community Centre, 10 Edward St, Somerville.
