HOBSONS Bay councillor Luba Grigorovitch is tipped to become the city’s mayor on November 13 after former powerbroker Tony Briffa lost his support base in Saturday’s council election.
Cr Angela Altair, re-elected with the highest primary vote (3980) in Strand ward, joins Cr Grigorovitch and two new women on the seven-member council.
Cr Grigorovitch, the Altona ALP branch secretary, was returned with the highest primary vote (4509) in Wetlands ward.
While her past attempts at becoming mayor or deputy mayor were shot down by Cr Briffa’s voting bloc, Cr Grigorovitch said she “definitely” felt her luck was about to change.
Cr Grigorovitch, who is also the Hobsons Bay women’s charter champion, applauded the new gender ratio on the council.
“I think it’s a really good opportunity for the community because we’re going to be one of the very few councils with more women than men and I think it will bring a whole new dynamic to our council, especially given all the directors are still male.”
While Cr Briffa received the city’s highest quota of 4102 primary votes in Cherry Lake ward — just four votes shy of winning on first preferences — his running mate, John Hogg, who got 2260 primary votes, was defeated by independent Colleen Gates in Wetlands ward.
Cr Gates, who polled 1575 primary votes, said she felt that having good values was not gender-based and the whole point of council was being able to work together.
“I’ve said to Tony in the past, and to others, that whatever was going on with council in the previous group has got nothing to do with me and it’s not something I’m interested in getting involved in.”
Two other Briffa allies, Labor’s Michael Raffoul and Bill Tehan, were wiped out in the election.
Mr Raffoul’s defeat by independent Sandra Wilson came as the biggest shock. The secretary of the Kingsville ALP branch and member of Bill Shorten and Senator Conroy’s faction (the Short Cons) had been endorsed by former premier Steve Bracks.
“The result’s the result; can’t do much about it,” was all Mr Raffoul had to say. He got 1708 primary votes, compared to Cr Wilson’s 994.
Cr Wilson said she was a person who worked hard with all people in spite of differences.
She said the number of women on the council was a “fascinating” outcome. “I just think it’s not so much about women; it’s about people who stood up and have spoken for community. The fact that we’re women is probably just a byproduct of being good, community-minded people.”
Mr Tehan was replaced by his ALP running mate in Strand ward, Paul Morgan, helping him over the line with preferences.
Mr Tehan received 1425 primary votes and Cr Morgan 1012.
Cr Morgan is the first to publicly back Cr Grigorovitch for mayor.
“If she was nominated, I’d support her. I think she’s had the experience and the opportunity to prove herself in the previous term and if the opportunity arises for her to be mayor, I’m happy to support her.” As soon as election results started flowing, social media was rife with suggestions that Cr Morgan would be Cr Briffa’s only ally on the council.
Cr Briffa’s main adversary, Peter Hemphill, was re-elected to Strand ward, recording 2575 primary votes.
The two are yet to face off in the Victoria Civil and Administrative Tribunal over a councillor misconduct complaint brought against Cr Briffa by Cr Hemphill.
Cr Morgan said he hoped to “become an olive branch” but did not think it was possible to mend the rift between the pair.
Cr Briffa said he was “extremely pleased” at the level of community support received. “The new council, going forward . . . as I’ve said all along, I will try and work with all councillors and we start afresh”.
Mr Tehan said: “The community clearly showed that they wanted me in. However, the proportional preferences clearly not only saw my failure, but the failure of many good councillors across the western councils”.
He said he hoped the new council could serve the community “without allowing their egos to blind good decision-making”.
Cr Hemphill and Mr Hogg did not respond by deadline.
