FORMER Wangaratta councillor Lauren McCully has started her bid to be part of the city’s return to a democratically elected council in late October.
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The 35-year-old mother-of-six will be chasing one of the four city ward positions on offer after Wangaratta ends the era of administration following the former council’s sacking in 2013.
Ms McCully served one term on council from 2008 to 2012 before being one of five sitting councillors to lose their spots.
Dr Julian Fidge, who was a member of the 2013 sacked council, has confirmed he will be standing again and will also be chasing a city ward position.
Former Wangaratta mayor Rozi Parisotto has relocated to Melbourne and won’t be standing.
Ms McCully said Wangaratta was ready for the return of councillors.
“I want to see the council work as a cohesive team for our community,” she said.
“It can happen provided the people who are elected have put up their hands for the right reasons.
“The primary reason being that theyrre there for our community as a whole and not for personal or single issues.”
Ms McCully said some of the successes of her time on council included the Wangaratta children’s services centre completion, Ovens Riverside development, South Wangaratta urban renewal master-plan and funding for the Whitfield community centre.
“I love my community,” she said.
“But you can't be on council to run your own personal agenda.”
The 2008-2012 council’s handling of the rural lands strategy was one of the catalysts for the purge of councillors including Ms McCully.
The matter has since been resolved by administrators, Ailsa Fox, Irene Grant and Rodney Roschellor.
The 2013 dramas also led to the exit of the council’s senior management team led by chief executive Doug Sharp.
Dr Fidge was a candidate in the recent Indi federal election campaign.
“Wangaratta should have much more industry and employment - I am keen to work with businesses to bring their jobs here,” Dr Fidge said.
“We set Wangaratta up for success with the new council management team, and I understand we are getting some new business now, but more work is needed.”
Carboor farmer Harry Bussell is chasing the south ward spot.
Wangaratta Victorian Farmers Federation branch president Greg Mirabella has also been touted as a potential candidate.
“I don’t really know at this stage, but I won’t discount it,” he said.
