Car won’t go far

By Jade Lawton
CASEY councillors running for State Government seats have been asked to list their council and campaigning commitments.
Cr Lynette Keleher was set to move a motion at last night’s council meeting, asking mayor Lorraine Wreford to provide council with a ‘clear and concise’ diary, detailing her mayoral and campaign duties as the pre-selected Liberal candidate for Mordialloc.
Cr Keleher also asked council to reaffirm that the mayoral car, funded by Casey taxpayers, was not to be used in the campaign process.
Cr Sam Aziz said the campaign scrutiny should extend to all councillors running for State Government seats.
Also on the campaign trail is Edrington Ward councillor Daniel Mulino, who is one of three ALP-backed candidates vying for pre-selection in Kilsyth.
“I think this is a reasonable thing, however it needs to span all councillors who are running for state positions and all councillors who are politically endorsed to be on council,” Cr Aziz said.
“People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”
Cr Keleher is the only Casey councillor officially backed by a party – the Greens.
“Lorraine rang me last night at 8.30 and she was still in the office. She is probably one of the hardest working mayors,” Cr Aziz said.
“The car is permitted for private use and I know in the past some mayors have driven to Queensland and back, but Lorraine has not done that.”
Cr Mulino told the Gazette this week that his campaigning would not impact his role as a councillor.
“I have started campaigning. It mainly involves handing out material explaining the process and my candidacy on the weekends, either at shopping centres or through doorknocking,” Cr Mulino said.
“If I become a candidate for the ALP at the state election, then it would have an impact. I have stated that I would resign if I became a candidate for this reason. I also believe that I should resign if I became the candidate as it would create a conflict of interest.”
Casey statistics show Cr Mulino has missed four council meetings and six general purpose meetings since being elected.