Hannah Hammoud
Taylors Ward councillor Ranka Rasic has been elected as the new mayor of Brimbank after edging out fellow councillor, Virginia Tachos by just one vote.
At the council meeting held on November 17, Cr Rasic was promoted from her 2022-23 position as deputy mayor and was elected as the mayor of Brimbank council for the second time.
Cr Rasic received a majority of votes during the election from councillors Sarah Branton, Thuy Dang, Jasmine Nguyen, Jae Papalia, Sam David and herself.
Cr Tachos fell short of achieving a majority of six votes after receiving votes from councillors Victoria Borg, Maria Kerr, Thomas O’Reilly, outgoing mayor Bruce Lancashire, and herself.
It was also a tight contest for deputy mayor position.
Cr Papalia finished one vote ahead of Cr Borg. It’s the first time Cr Papalia has held a leadership role on the council.
Posting to social media shortly after being elected as mayor, Cr Rasic said she was ‘grateful’ to be elected as the 2023-24 Brimbank mayor.
“Over the next 12 months as mayor, I will work hard to represent our diverse community and make Brimbank an even better place,” she said.
Cr Rasic previously held the position of Brimbank mayor during her first year as a councillor, for the 2020-21 period.
Brimbank became Cr Rasic’s first home when she first moved to Australia in the 90s, where she has since raised her family and opened her own business.
Cr Rasic previously shared her greatest concerns for the municipality in her portfolio posted on council’s website, citing the needs for improvements to infrastructure, parkland and connectivity.
“I think we need to focus on our local roads, footpaths and upgrading local parks so that our residents can fully enjoy what this city has to offer,” her portfolio reads.
