At least four former Brimbank councillors are expected to enter the race at October’s municipal elections.
Star Weekly understands Costas Socratous, who lost his seat in the Harvester ward in 2008, was at a council-run information session for prospective councillors in Sunshine last Monday night.
Former mayor Margaret Guidice, who was also at the session, declared her intention to run in March.
Another former mayor, Sam David, told Star Weekly he was still weighing up his options, but within council circles he is believed to be in the race.
Local social media page, Brimbank Votes, run by Friends of Sunvale co-convener Sean Spencer, believes Socratous, Guidice, David, Troy Atanasovski and another former councillor, Marion Martin, are all running.
However, Martin told Star Weekly she was “definitely not” running.
Mayor of the sacked class of 2008, Troy Atanasovski – now deputy chairman at the Migrant Resource Centre North West Region – is also likely to throw his hat into the ring, according to council sources.
Mr Atanasovski did not deny he was intending to run in October when asked by
Star Weekly. “It’s too early; I’m overseas at the moment, can we talk next week?” he said.
Mr Atanasovski told Fairfax Media in 2009 the sacked council had paid a “political price” and was used as a “scapegoat”.
A Victorian Ombudsman’s report recommended that Mr Atanasovski be investigated over a possible failure to declare election campaign gifts in 2003 and 2005.
The same report also found Mr Socratous was “compromised” by working as an electoral officer for then MP Theo Theophanous.
Federal MP for Gorton Brendan O’Connor, who once employed Mr Socratous, said residents were free to vote for whoever they liked. “It’s ultimately a matter for voters to decide who they want on council, not politicians or newspapers,” he said. “I’m just relieved democracy has been restored to the municipality and decisions will be made by elected representatives, not appointed administrators.”
Sam David said he was still “undecided” about a possible council tilt: “If I have a go, it will be at the last minute.”
