WODONGA mayor Anna Speedie has failed to make a line-up of 12 preferred election candidates because she “doesn’t know how to handle people”.
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The Wodonga Ratepayers’ Association on Tuesday night unveiled the names of 12 of 24 contenders it favours for the seven places on the city’s council.
Existing councillors John Watson and Mike Fraser were listed alongside Veronique Janel, Adam Koster, Brian Mitchell, Peter Smith, Ray Snell, Kat Bennett, Ben Clifton, Dawn George, Ron Mildren and Alison Reed.
Two, Mr Mitchell and Mr Smith, are association members.
Association president Ian Deegan unveiled the list with candidates Mr Mitchell, Mr Smith, Mr Koster, Ms Janel, Mrs Reed, Libby Hall and Tim Quilty watching on.
“I know you’re probably all thinking that ‘the mayor is not there’ and that is because I don’t believe, the committee doesn’t believe, that she deserves another go,” Mr Deegan told an audience of around 50 at the Wodonga RSL Club.
“She doesn’t know how to handle people, so that’s why she is not there.”
Criteria such as business acumen, performance at the association’s election forum, financial experience and council knowledge were used to determine the list.
Mr Deegan said the selections were made “without fear or favour”.
“We’re not saying that you must vote for them, what we’re saying is that we have honestly and truly sat down...to come to these decisions,” he said.
The association’s secretary Mr Quilty and long-time member Mrs Hall were omitted from the list.
Mrs Hall was very disappointed.
“I have been a member for over 10 years, I’ve lobbied the council over many issues and they’ve not supported me – where’s the loyalty in that?” Mrs Hall told The Border Mail.
“I feel betrayed and I am considering whether I continue as a member.”
Four of the seven members of the Alliance for Change were among the 12 chosen by the association, but Mr Deegan said it was not a factor in selection.
Sheridan Zikesch, a resident who received a bungled email about her Hunchback Hill worries from Cr Speedie, raised her concerns about the mayor’s failure to apologise.
She called for voters to elect an entirely new set of seven councillors, saying there needed to be a fresh approach to leadership.
