The town with no mayor

By Bridget Brady
TRICIA Clarke is angry that politics has left her without a mayor.
The Endeavour Hills resident said it was not good enough that her local ward councillor and deputy mayor Shar Balmes had to take up the duties of acting mayor while Lorraine Wreford took leave from council to contest the State Election.
“It’s taken Shar Balmes away from this area. It leaves the community in limbo without a mayor,” Ms Clarke said.
Cr Wreford is a Liberal candidate in the seat of Mordialloc and has taken three weeks’ leave from the council in the lead-up to the election.
Cr Wreford said it was not unusual or unreasonable to take leave from council during this time and it was in fact recommended by the Municipal Association of Victoria.
“I continue, however, to meet obligations as a councillor though councillors do from time to time take leave for various reasons,” Cr Wreford said.
Two other Casey councillors have also put their hands up for the State Election and will both contest the seat of Cranbourne. Geoff Ablett is the Liberal candidate for Cranbourne and Amanda Stapledon will contest the seat as an Independent. Both have remained on the council throughout their campaigns.
But Ms Clarke said any councillor who announced they were running in an election should stand down from the council. She said councillors were “double dipping” by staying on.
“It (council) shouldn’t be political at all. You’re there to be a councillor. I’m not being unreasonable,” she said.
“We are not getting true councillors any more who are just happy looking after local issues.”
Ms Clarke said too many councillors had their sights on a bigger job one day.
But Victorian Local Government Association president Heinz Kreutz said some councillors made excellent local members of parliament.
Cr Kreutz said it was not uncommon for councillors to contest elections and they had no legal obligation to step aside while running for an election.
“Some people do use it as a platform but people are entitled to do this,” Cr Kreutz said.
“It’s up to the people to have a good look at who they are voting for.”