fitzroyalty

Update 4 December 2008: I’ve added some extra comments and links and corrected an issue based on reader feedback.

The results of the City of Yarra elections are now final. Your can see the results at the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC). Some candidates polled so well that they were clear winners almost immediately. Steve Jolly (Socialist Party) and Amanda Stone (Greens) have been elected in Langridge ward, which is brilliant. Geoff Barbour (ALP) is the third councillor in Langridge.

In Nicholls ward Sam Gaylard (Greens), Jane Garrett (ALP) and Jackie Fristacky (Ind) have been elected. In Melba ward (outside Fitzroy) the winners are Josh Funder (ALP), Alison Clarke (Greens) and Dale Smedley (Ind – alleged by the Save Edinburgh Gardens blog and independent candidate Ian Quick to be ALP supported).

Steve Jolly at his election campaign launch on Saturday 11 October 2008

As the Age reports, it appears likely that the ALP and Greens will have 3 councillors each but it seems unlikely that any party will be able to claim an absolute majority and thus crush genuine debate in council. However, given her voting record, Fristacky may side with the three ALP councillors and Smedley (whose values are unknown) to form a majority.

This could be a problem in relation to many issues, particularly the stupid proposal to build a new North Fitzroy library on the grounds of Edinburgh gardens. As I understand it, the new council has a majority in favour of this plan.

I’m disappointed that the pragmatic independent Ian Quick did not secure a position in Melba, where he came fourth. I’m not surprised that the other Socialist Party candidates did not win, as they do not have the profile, experience or incumbent status of Steve Jolly.

I’m enormously amused that the biggest joke in the election, conservative Tom McFeely, was mostly ignored by the voters. I believed that his anti-cyclist, pro-road tunnel platform was fundamentally inconsistent with the views of the majority of the electorate, and I am glad that this view has been vindicated.

Just as I hoped and anticipated, a majority of the 2004-2008 councillors were dumped. As the Leader reports, these include the Mayor. It’s not often to see real political justice in action and the schadenfreude is sweet.

My posts about the City of Yarra council during the election period have been viewed over 700 times and I hope that I have been able to provide effective coverage of the election and the major issues. If you have comments about how Fitzroyalty has covered the election issues, please submit them below.

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Other posts you may find relevant and interesting

• City of Yarra elections – Socialist Party campaign launch, 1 November 2008
• City of Yarra elections – North Fitzroy Library and Edinburgh Gardens, 10 November 2008
• City of Yarra elections – honesty and accountability, 13 November 2008
• City of Yarra elections – hard rubbish collection, 5 November 2008
• City of Yarra elections – saving Condell park, 18 November 2008

This entry was posted on Monday, December 1st, 2008 at 12:07 pm and is filed under Fitzroy, Yarra City Council, politics, social issues. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.