Cade Lucas
Hobsons Bay could soon have an entirely new council, with just two of seven councillors nominating for re-election next month.
Nominations for the October poll closed on September 17, with only former deputy mayors, Daria Kellander and Diana Grima, standing again.
While some such as sitting mayor Matt Tyler and former mayor Antoinette Briffa had already announced their intention to not stand again, a failure to renominate has brought the career of Hobsons Bay’s longest serving councillor, Peter Hemphill, to an end.
A three time former mayor, Cr Hemphill was first elected to council in 1999 and also stood as an independent candidate for Williamstown at the 2018 state election.
Just last week Cr Hemphill was handed a one-month suspension from council after an independent arbiter upheld allegations of misconduct brought against him by Cr Briffa
Another former mayor, Cr Jonathan Marsden will also depart after being elected in 2016, while current deputy mayor Pamela Sutton-Leaguad will leave council after one four-year term.
Councillors Kellander and Grima are no certainties to be re-elected, with both facing numerous challengers in their respected wards of Altona and Altona Meadows.
In Altona, Cr Kellander will face local businessman Tim Rippon, Victoria Socialists and former Greens candidate Susan Miller, Phillip Paull and Irene Brown.
In Altona Meadows, Cr Grima is being challenged by libertarian candidate Liam Roche, environmental waste auditor Matthew Phelan and migration agent Ranbir Lambra.
Just two candidates are contesting the Williamstown ward, the Greens Ingrid Martengaard and independent Lisa Bentley.
In Williamstown North, former federal election candidate Alex Anselone, small businessman Michael Disbury, Wajde Ghazi Assaf and Nicholas Norton will contest.
Foot surgeon Dr Omar Baarini, community advocate Rosa McKenna, previous candidate Daniel Kade, Kristin Bishop and Hayley Royal will vie for Spotswood, while Labor’s Paddy Keys-Macpherson, Paula Morgan and Tori Mikula will contest Laverton.
Real estate agent Alexandra Damasoliotis, lawyer Rayane Hawli, Greens candidate Rowena Joske and Ryan Thistlethwaite are in the running for Altona North.
Altona Meadows Ward (one vacancy)
Liam Roche
Diana Grima
Matthew Phelan
Ranbir Lambra
Altona North Ward (one vacancy)
Alexandra Damasoliotis
Ryan Thistlethwaite
Rowena Joske
Rayane Hawli
Altona Ward (one vacancy)
Irene Brown
Daria Kellander
Susan Miller
Paull Phillip
Tim R Rippon
Laverton Ward (one vacancy)
Paula Morgan
Paddy Keys-Macpherson
Tori Mikula
Spotswood Ward (one vacancy)
Kristin Bishop
Hayley Royal
Daniel Kade
Rosa McKenna
Omar Baarini
Williamstown North Ward (one vacancy)
Alexander Ansalone
Nicholas Norton
Wajde Ghazi Assaf
Michael Disbury
Williamstown Ward (one vacancy)
Ingrid Martengaard
Lisa Bentley
