Marion councillor Luke Hutchinson pleads guilty to mailing unauthorised flyers
Marion councillor Luke Hutchinson has pleaded guilty to mailing out anonymous flyers attacking a fellow councillor, during last year’s council elections.
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Marion councillor Luke Hutchinson pleaded guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court this morning to sending out unauthorised material.
The Electoral Commission had taken legal action against Cr Hutchinson for anonymously distributing material during the council elections last November in breach of the Electoral Act.
Candidates are required, by law, to include their name and address on any material provided to voters.
The former deputy mayor is due to be sentenced on October 16.
He faces a maximum penalty of a $2500 fine.
The Advertiser understands one of the two charges relates to flyers sent out to voters about veteran Marion councillor Bruce Hull.
A flyer making derogratory claims against Cr Hull was mailed during the council elections last year to homes within Cr Hull’s ward of Warracowie.
That ward includes the suburbs of Warradale, Oaklands Park, Dover Gardens, Seacombe Gardens and part of Marion.
The flyer made allegations about Cr Hull’s behaviour and costs to ratepayers.
It reproduced snippets from Advertiser articles, including one that reported Cr Hull was ordered to apologise to former councillor Kathleen Allen in 2015 after he criticised her on Twitter for spending $3500 on chauffeur rides to council meetings.
The acting Ombudsman at the time found Cr Hull had “bullied” Ms Allen, and he was ordered to apologise or potentially face court action.
Lawyer Tim Campbell, representing Cr Hull, said he was awaiting the Magistrate’s sentence and he “expected that the matter be dealt with by the City of Marion”.
A Marion Council spokesman said the matter was between Cr Hutchinson and the SA Electoral Commission.
The City of Marion would not be commenting accordingly.
Cr Hutchinson has been contacted for comment.