COULD this year’s local government elections turn into a Green-slide in Maribyrnong?
First it was an alliance of traders and community members who wanted to put a broom through the council and end years of Labor domination.
Now the Greens have shown their hand with five candidates to contest the seven seats in three wards on October 27.
Following a review last year by the Victorian Electoral Commission, Maribyrnong will go from seven wards with one councillor in each to three multi-councillor wards under the names River, Stony Creek and Yarraville.
Candidates will be elected on a proportional system.
The Greens say they will run a ‘lead candidate’ in each ward, with another supporting candidate in two of the wards.
West Footscray recreation planner Simon Crawford will contest Yarraville ward, lining up against Cr Michael Clarke, who has been a fixture in Yarraville and Kingsville since 2005.
Sylvie Leber will also contest the ward.
Footscray resident Emily Sims will run for the northern River ward, which takes in Maribyrnong, Maidstone and parts of Footscray and under the current structure is held by Sarah Carter and Dina Lynch.
The west of the municipality is partly held by Cr Catherine Cumming, who last month celebrated five terms and 15 years as a councillor, and second-term councillor Sel Sanli, who was first elected in 2007.
Their challenge will come from environment and planning masters student Toa Thredgold, who will be supported by retired postman and environment campaigner Steve Wilson.
Maribyrnong last had Greens representatives in the council term starting in 2003 when Janet Rice and the now state MP Colleen Hartland were elected.
