By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Former councillor Rex Flannery says he’s “running for redemption” as he was one of the last to nominate for the upcoming Casey Council elections.
The Casuarina Ward candidate says he has been unfairly “tarnished” for being on Casey Council, while it was the subject of IBAC’s anti-corruption inquiry, called Operation Sandon.
As a result of the allegations, the council was sacked and put under administration by the State Government in 2020.
Flannery was never the subject of adverse findings or publicly interrogated during the inquiry. He’d resigned shortly before the council was dismissed.
He takes issue with critics that say he ought to have known about allegedly corrupt dealings between some councillors and property developer John Woodman.
“I clearly had no idea of what was going on between them.
“I work full-time, I didn’t socialise with the (accused councillors) and they didn’t tell me they met with John Woodman.
“I’m running for redemption.”
He points out that no authority can “sack” the State Government despite losing $200 million on cancelling the Commonwealth Games and $1 billion on the East-West Link contract.
“And yet they can sack a council for alleged corruption, none of which is proven and with the likelihood that no one is going to be charged.
“They are hypocrites.“
If elected, he’s pledged to fight against rate rises, with ratepayers buckling under soaring cost of living. He’ll also suggest a budget for each ward for items like fixing footpaths, services or other emergencies.
Flannery concedes it will be tough to win ahead of nine other candidates in Casuarina Ward.
He is supportive of a long-term “family friend” and university student Rex Lazaros, who is also running in Casuarina. He welcomes young people like Lazaros as the “future of the City of Casey”.
He urges new councillors to vote as “individuals” out of their own consciences and not in “blocs”.
“There’s no place in councils for Liberal and Labor party politics. It should never be used as a stepping stone for anybody to go into State Parliament.
“Being a councillor is for advocating for the little people, those who can’t stand up for themselves.”
