Candidates revealed for Anglesea Ward by-election

HALF a dozen people have thrown their hats in the ring to be the new councillor in the Surf Coast Shire’s Anglesea Ward.

Yesterday (Wednesday), the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) announced the candidates who had nominated in the postal by-election.

They are, in ballot paper order:

• Paul Barker
• Tony Revell
• Raylene Fordham
• Andrew Peter Arnold
• Alex Marshall, and
• Harry Rosson

Candidate statements and responses to a questionnaire about their background and qualifications will be available online at vec.vic.gov.au later this week.

The by-election will be conducted entirely by post. Voters who were correctly enrolled for Anglesea Ward by 4pm on July 5 will receive a ballot pack, which they must complete and return as soon as possible using the reply paid envelope. Ballot packs will be mailed from August 13.

Voters can also hand-deliver ballot packs to the election office during business hours, at Shop 4, 103 Great Ocean Road, Anglesea.

Voting closes at 6pm on August 30. Returning officer Noel McPhee advised voters to vote well ahead of the closing time.

“You need to post or hand-deliver your completed ballot papers by the deadline to make your vote count,” he said.

“Local mail clearance times may be earlier than the close of voting, so don’t leave it to the last minute.”

For more information on the Anglesea Ward by-election, head to vec.vic.gov.au.

Community radio station 94.7 The Pulse will give listeners the opportunity to learn more about the candidates by holding an outside broadcast in Anglesea on Tuesday, August 6.

The broadcast will be held at Morgan’s Bar and Grill at 12/87-89 Great Ocean Road. All candidates have been invited to participate and will answer questions submitted online.

“We run these forums so that voters can make an informed choice having heard from as many candidates as possible,” Mitchell’s Front Page host Mitchell Dye.

“Candidates also get the opportunity to learn about the big issues in the community from the questions submitted by the audience.”

Listeners can submit questions for the candidates at https://mitchellsfrontpage.com/anglesea/