Cade Lucas
It could be a case of back to the future for Maribyrnong council with no less than three former mayors seeking to return at next month’s municipal elections.
Controversial former upper house MP, Catherine Cumming, and former Labor mayors John Cumming and Cameron McDonald are all attempting comebacks, while current mayor Cuc Lam and sitting councillors and former mayors Michael Clarke and Anthony Tran are also standing.
A total of 38 candidates will contest this year’s election in Maribyrnong, the first to be held with single member wards.
Greens representative Simon Crawford is the only sitting councillor not seeking re-election.
Ms Cumming, who spent more than two decades on council before being elected Western Metropolitan MP in 2018, is contesting Bluestone ward against Victorian Socialists Brad Reich, entrepreneur Pradeep Tiwari, unionist and lawyer Wallace Huang and the Greens Pierre Viaro.
In Braybrook, sitting mayor Cuc Lam is up against the Greens Chris Wilson, Victorian Socialists Catherine Robertson and Lochlann Clarke.
In Burndap, current councillors and Victorian Socialist Jorge Joquera is being challenged by artist Sally Walshe, lawyer Minh Quan Nguyen, social advocate Mohamed Semra, Fletcher Bubb, Pete Thomas and Thuy-Kim Le.
Incumbent and former mayor Anthony Tran is seeking to hold River ward against another former mayor in Cameron McDonald, previous ALP candidate Susan Yengi, former state and federal candidate Ken Betts, the Greens Danny Cash, Edward Merrifield, and Brendan Laws.
John Cumming will contest Saltwater against community advocates Samantha Meredith and Terri Soumilas, Labor’s Aman Gaur, Victorian Socialists Lucinda Kelly and Jenny Harrison.
In Sheok, the Greens Bernadette Thomas will look to retain her place on council against Labor’s Ari Casanova, previous candidate PaulNam Le and Victorian Socialists Oskar Martin
In Wattle, Maribyrnong’s longest serving councillor, Michael Clarke, will again seek re-election against the Greens Elena Pereyra, Victoria Socialists Julien Macandili, Labor’s Clint Lingard and independent Miles Parnall- Gilbert.
Bluestone Ward (one vacancy)
Brad Reich
Catherine Cumming
Wallace Huang
Pradeep Tiwari
Pierre Vairo
Braybrook Ward (one vacancy)
Lochlann Clarke
Chris Wilson
Cuc Lam
Catherine Robertson
Burndap Ward (one vacancy)
Minh Quan Ngyuen
Pete Thomas
Mohamed Semra
Thuy-Kim Le
Fletcher Bubb
Jorge Joquera
Sally Walshe
River Ward (one vacancy)
Susan Yengi
Ken Betts
Edward Merrifield
Cameron McDonald
Anthony Tran
Danny Cash
Brendan Laws
Saltwater Ward (one vacancy)
Jenny Harrison
Terri Soumilas
Samantha Meredith
Aman Gaur
Lucinda Kelly
John Cumming
Sheok Ward (one vacancy)
Paul Nam Le
Oskar Martin
Bernadette Thomas
Ari Casanova
Wattle Ward (one vacancy)
Elena Pereyra
Julien Macandili
Michael C Clarke
Clint Lingard
Miles Parnall-Gilbert
