By DANIELLE GALVIN AND NICOLE WILLIAMS
TWO Cardinia Shire Councillors have thrown their hats in the ring for the mayorship, days out of the election.
Port Ward Councillor Graeme Moore said he and his wife Sue had “planned to do this” while Central Ward Councillor Jodie Owen said she would devote 150 per cent of her time to the role.
“It’s not my turn, it’s my time,” Cr Moore said.
“There are no turns, it’s just the right person for the job at the right time.”
If the Nar Nar Goon North “blue collar worker” is successful in his mayoral campaign, he will be the first councillor in a decade to come from the Port Ward.
Cr Moore said people in the community were asking him whether he would run for the mayorship and that he would be a good candidate.
“I have made arrangements and I have great family support behind me,” he said.
“There’s no deals – I don’t do deals.”
Cr Moore said if he was to be mayor in 2014, he would help open the new racecourse, the Toomah Community Centre as well as some other major iconic projects.
“It would be a proud moment as mayor to open the new shire offices,” he said.
Cr Moore said it had been “at least 10 years” since a Port Ward councillor was mayor.
The battle for the mayorship will come down to four councillors, including Cr Collin Ross and Cr Kate Lempriere.
Cr Owen said she had to make sure that she could devote a year to the mayorship like her predecessor Cr Brett Owen.
“Brett is one of the most active mayors we’ve ever had,” she said.
“Brett took the role on with respect, if the numbers fall the right way, I wall take the position on with great respect.”
Cr Owen said she had received feedback in the community that residents wanted someone younger in the position who could identify with residents.
“I looked at what I promised to the community in the first term, everything I have promised I have already done,” she said.
“You could go for experience or someone who is energetic and who wants to take Cardinia on the track that Brett put us on – that position is a fantastic place.
“You could argue experience would be best, but sometimes I think this whole council has shown that a fresh approach can be better.”
If elected, Cr Owen said she planned to reach out to investors and businesses to show them that the shire was a “great place” and bring more work to residents who travel out of the region every day.
Councillors will decide on the 2014 mayor at the statutory council meeting on Monday 11 November.
