Maribyrnong’s longest serving councillor, voted out at last month’s election, has called time on his local government career.
Three-time former Maribyrnong mayor Dr Michael Clarke could only manage third place in his bid for re-election in Wattle Ward, finishing behind independent Miles Parnall-Gilbert and eventual winner Elena Pereyra of the Greens.
“This does bring a close to what sort of started 22 years ago,” said Dr Clarke, adding that this was always going to be his last election whatever the result.
“If I got back in I’d only do one more term and if I lost that would be it.”
The long-time Labor councillor said he knew re-election in Wattle would be an uphill battle with a strong field and the area around Yarraville trending towards the Greens.
He congratulated his successor on her election.
“Elena Pereyra is a highly credible person,” Dr Clarke said.
“Every person who ran in the Wattle Ward I considered to be a credible candidate.”
The 69-year-old nominated the expansion of parks and sporting fields, incorporating local history into council’s planning scheme and making Maribyrnong a ‘festival city’ as his proudest achievements, while not being able to see through his solar city plan was his biggest disappointment.
Just two sitting councillors, former mayor Cuc Lam and the Greens’ Bernadette Thomas, were re-elected to Maribyrnong council, with the other five Mohamed Semra, Samantha Meredith, Pradeep Tiwari, Elena Pereyra and Susan Yengi all first-time councillors.
New Blustone ward representative Cr Tiwari said Maribyrnong had chosen change.
“My priorities are first and foremost for providing the community with a transparent and fair community consultation process, so that no one is left behind,” Cr Tiwari said.
Community activist Cr Meredith won Saltwater ward for the Greens, increasing their representation on council to three at an election where they otherwise went backwards.
A resident of the much maligned Joseph Road precinct, Cr Meredith she would advocate for her fellow residents there and across central Footscray.
“There’s been a lot of discontent with a lack of action in Footscray. I will be very active and action orientated,” she said.
The new council has already been sworn in and a new mayor will be elected at its first meeting on Tuesday, November 19.
