MOST Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors are keeping quiet about whether they will seek re-election in October.
Three of the 10 councillors, Hugh Fraser (Nepean ward), Antonella Celi (Seawinds) and David Garnock (Cerberus) say they will stand while two others, Bev Colomb (Briars) and her ward colleague Anne Shaw are saying they have not made up their minds.
Another two councillors, David Gibb (Seawinds) and Andrew Dixon (Briars) are reported to have told public meetings they will be standing but have not confirmed this with The News.
“I don’t have a comment,” Cr Gibb said on Friday after being asked to confirm that he told an over-50s group on Thursday afternoon that this would be the first election he would not be contesting in 20 years.
“I haven’t told the council anything,” Cr Gibb said.
His reported comments to the meeting at Rosebud came just hours after he told The News: “That [seeking re-election] remains to be seen. I am considering my position and will decide in early September.”
Cr Celi sent an email to confirming that she would stand and added “stay tuned for more in September”.
Cr Fraser was definite: “I am standing for re-election and am looking forward to another four years [on council].”
Cr Garnock: “Yes, I am definitely planning to run for election again. Wouldn’t have a clue if anybody is lining-up to challenge me.”
Cr Shaw said she would “work it out when the time comes – I’ll tell you when the time comes”.
“I’ll make a decision when I’m ready. A lot can happen in two weeks.”
Cr Colomb said on Friday that she had yet to make up her mind.
“There are life issues and lots of things I want to discuss with my family,” Cr Colomb. “I am certainly leaning towards standing again, but I can’t say 100 per cent, and that’s the truth.”
The mayor Cr Graham Pittock (Seawinds) is also “not sure yet”.
Crs Dixon, Tim Rodgers (Nepean) and Tim Wood (Red Hill) did not respond by Sunday afternoon to calls or emails from The News.
First published in the Mornington News – 30 August 2016
