TWENTY candidates have nominated for election to the seven seats available on the Derwent Valley Council in next month’s local government elections. Among them, former mayors Tony Nicholson OAM and Ben Shaw are seeking to return to council as deputy mayor. The council is being reduced from eight seats to seven.
A smaller field of nine candidates will contest the Central Highlands Council, which is being reduced from nine seats to seven. Four candidates are seeking election as mayor but John Hall is the only candidate for deputy mayor, meaning he will win that position if he is returned as a councillor.
DERWENT VALLEY COUNCIL: The 20 Derwent Valley Council candidates are, in alphabetical order: Phillip Bigg, Neil Biggar, Cr Phillip Bingley, Cr Luke Browning, Jess Burns, Nick Cooley, Cr Justin Derksen, Cr Michelle Dracoulis, Casey Farrell, James Graham, Matt Hill, Kerry Kievit, Cr Sara Lowe, Tony Nicholson OAM, Melinda Pearce, James Randall, Cr Ben Shaw, Cr Wayne Shoobridge, Julie Triffett and Brody Wiggins. The candidates are from New Norfolk, Molesworth, Lachlan, Lawitta and Magra, and they include the six serving members of the Derwent Valley Council as well as five former members including past mayors Tony Nicholson and Ben Shaw. Mr Shaw is a serving councillor on the Sorell Council.
Cr Michelle Dracoulis is seeking a second full term as mayor, challenged by sitting councillor Wayne Shoobridge, former councillor Julie Triffett, former member of parliament Casey Farrell and electoral newcomers Neil Biggar and Jess Burns. Cr Luke Browning has nominated for a second term as deputy mayor, challenged by his fellow serving councillors Sara Lowe, Phillip Bingley and Justin Derksen. Ben Shaw and Tony Nicholson are among the five external candidates seeking to be the deputy mayor and both have previously served as mayor and deputy mayor of the Derwent Valley Council. The remaining candidates are Phillip Bigg, Melinda Pearce and James Randall.
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS COUNCIL: The nine Central Highlands candidates are, in alphabetical order: Cr Jim Allwright, Cr Anthony Archer, Cr Robert Cassidy, Ray Dabbs, Cr John Hall, Cr Julie Honner, Steve Loring, Cr Shelley Triffett and Cr Loueen Triffitt. The candidates are from Hamilton, Ouse, Bothwell, Miena and Tods Corner. Current councillors Yvonne Miller and Dr David Meacheam who were elected in 2022 are not contesting this poll and will retire from the council.
There are four candidates for the position of mayor. Cr Lou Triffitt is seeking to retain the position but is being challenged buy current deputy mayor Cr Jim Allwright, former mayoral aspirant Cr Robert Cassidy and past council candidate Steve Loring. Cr John Hall is the only candidate for deputy mayor.
Voting is compulsory and will be conducted by postal ballot. Ballot packs, including a brochure containing statements by the candidates, will be delivered next week by Australia Post and must be returned by 2pm. October 27. Counting of the votes will start on October 28.
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS COUNCIL
Candidates
7 Councillors – 9 candidates
| ALLWRIGHT, Jim | Ouse |
| ARCHER, Anthony | Bothwell |
| CASSIDY, Robert Louis | Bothwell |
| DABBS, Ray | Bothwell |
| HALL, John | Bothwell |
| HONNER, Julie | Miena |
| LORING, Steve | Tods Corner |
| TRIFFETT, Shelley | Hamilton |
| TRIFFITT, Loueen (Lou) | Hamilton |
Mayor – 4 candidates
| ALLWRIGHT, Jim | Ouse |
| CASSIDY, Robert Louis | Bothwell |
| LORING, Steve | Tods Corner |
| TRIFFITT, Loueen (Lou) | Hamilton |
Deputy Mayor – 1 candidate (no ballot required)
| HALL, John | Bothwell |
DERWENT VALLEY COUNCIL
Candidates
7 Councillors – 20 candidates
| BIGG, Phillip | New Norfolk |
| BIGGAR, Neil | New Norfolk |
| BINGLEY, Phillip | Lachlan |
| BROWNING, Luke | Lawitta |
| BURNS, Jess | Molesworth |
| COOLEY, Nick | Molesworth |
| DERKSEN, Justin | New Norfolk |
| DRACOULIS, Michelle | New Norfolk |
| FARRELL, Casey | New Norfolk |
| GRAHAM, James | Magra |
| HILL, Matt | New Norfolk |
| KIEVIT, Kerry | New Norfolk |
| LOWE, Sara | New Norfolk |
| NICHOLSON, Tony | Lachlan |
| PEARCE, Melinda | New Norfolk |
| RANDALL, James | New Norfolk |
| SHAW, Ben | Lawitta |
| SHOOBRIDGE, Wayne | New Norfolk |
| TRIFFETT, Julie | Magra |
| WIGGINS, Brody | New Norfolk |
Mayor – 6 candidates
| BIGGAR, Neil | New Norfolk |
| BURNS, Jess | Molesworth |
| DRACOULIS, Michelle | New Norfolk |
| FARRELL, Casey | New Norfolk |
| SHOOBRIDGE, Wayne | New Norfolk |
| TRIFFETT, Julie | Magra |
Deputy Mayor – 9 candidates
| BIGG, Phillip | New Norfolk |
| BINGLEY, Phillip | Lachlan |
| BROWNING, Luke | Lawitta |
| DERKSEN, Justin | New Norfolk |
| LOWE, Sara | New Norfolk |
| NICHOLSON, Tony | Lachlan |
| PEARCE, Melinda | New Norfolk |
| RANDALL, James | New Norfolk |
| SHAW, Ben | Lawitta |
Readers please note that comments posted about the election must now contain your name and locality until the conclusion of the election.
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5 Responses
I’d like to see every candidate sign a pledge that they have been through a police check and hold a working with vulnerable people card. You need it to be a council employee so why are councillors exempt?? If you don’t have one then WHY NOT?
Leah Byers,
New Norfolk
Got both. I presumed until recently, every councillor had to.
Neil Biggar,
New Norfolk
Every councillor takes an oath of office. Can every councillor, past or present, pledge they have never breached this oath? Can community members advise anyone when they have proof that this oath has been breached by a councillor?
Leah Byers,
New Norfolk
Good question Leah. I would also like to know of any with a criminal record (or charges outstanding); relevant tertiary qualification (ie business degree for example); history in local government; membership of any political party; how many council meetings have attended (for those not currently appointed); and particularly local community participation.
Alice Graham – Lachlan
So, as the election hum picks up, remember you are not outside looking in. You’re inside the thing, shaping it by how you think. How you talk & eventually how you will NUMBER those boxes. That quiet, everyday kitchen table act is what keeps the whole stream moving.
Candidates, though, are in a different position. Still in the stream, sure. We are also waving from the middle. Trying to get your attention without splashing too much. We are talking about the water, current & the direction. We are also trying to convince you we know how to steer. It is a different kind of inside‑ness which is more exposed & more deliberate.
James T Graham,
Magra