Don't stand back - stand for council

At the Municipal Association of Victoria’s (MAV) Stand for Council campaign launch on 5 May, chief executive officer Rob Spence encouraged community-minded citizens from all walks of life to nominate.

"At the October elections there will be 636 vacancies across 78 councils, and we want to see a diverse mix of people join the election race," he said.

"No matter your occupation, cultural background, gender; whether you are retired, a stay-at-home parent or a university student, if you are over 18 and on the electoral roll for the council area, chances are you will be eligible to stand.

"It's important that potential candidates understand what the role of a councillor involves. Getting all the information prior to the elections will make for a smooth transition to council life if elected.

"Being a councillor can be quite hands-on; it will involve many council and community meetings, attendance at community events, decision-making on a broad range of community issues, and it can be time consuming. But with careful planning and preparation it can be incredibly rewarding.

"Councillors have the unique opportunity to drive real change within their community. One of the most important aspects of the role is to balance different opinions and weigh up community priorities when making decisions on a broad range of issues.

"Many councils will be running informative Candidate Information Sessions between May and August and we encourage all election-hopefuls to attend."

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For further information contact MAV CEO, Rob Spence on 0418 132 573 or MAV Communications on 9667 5547.

Further information

Local government elections will take place on 22 October. Visit the stand for council section of the website and our Stand for Council Facebook page.