Former Labor heavyweight snubbed by party in council preferences bombshell

After explosive 11th-hour dealings, Labor’s candidate looks almost certain to snub former party heavyweight Nick Reece in the Lord Mayoral race.

Labor looks set to snub former party heavyweight Nick Reece in the Lord Mayor race. Picture: Jason Edwards

After bombshell 11th-hour dealings, the fight for Lord Mayor looks set to be a contest between an alliance of Labor candidate Phil Reed, the Greens and former deputy Arron Wood versus current incumbent Nick Reece, Anthony Koutoufides and the Liberal candidate Mariam Riza.

All candidates had until midday on Monday to declare who each will preference their votes to.

With none likely to poll enough to win in their own right, and many expected to pick up at least 10 per cent of the vote, the election is expected to be decided on this weekend’s preference deals.

Arron Wood appears set to get Reed’s preferences following an 11th-hour deal. Picture: Rebecca Michael

Reece and Wood are considered the favourites to pick up most votes, and therefore benefit most from others’ preferences.

And sources close to the horse-trading have revealed to the Herald Sun that Reed’s team has surprisingly opted to preference for Wood, against former Labor heavyweight Reece.

Before moving into Melbourne Town Hall, Reece had served as state secretary of the Victorian Labor Party, adviser to former Prime Ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard and adviser to former Premiers Steve Bracks and John Brumby.

The controversial move for Reed’s team to back Wood over Reece is expected to cause division in Labor, with some figures already describing it as a “monumental betrayal”.

It also makes the contest a clear choice between Labor, the Greens’ Roxane Ingleton and Wood, or Reece, ex-Carlton star Koutoufides and the Liberals.

Nick Reece’s snubbing is expected to cause friction in Labor. Picture: Jason Edwards

Regarding Labor’s decision to back Mr Wood ahead of Mr Reece, Mr Reed said: “In terms of policy and personnel, the Reece ticket cannot make any claim to be a progressive ticket or consistent with the views and values of the Labor Party”.

Labor has put the residents’ group, Voices for Melbourne, as its first preference.

Mr Reed said his Labor team would not sell off council assets, a direct riposte to Mr Reece’s policy to sell the council’s 51 per cent of the Regent Theatre.

“We’re not going to privatise services, we’re going to support people and build build the services and facilities that a community needs,” he said.

It is understood that frenzied negotiations lasted all through Sunday and into the night.

Both the Liberal Party and the Gary Morgan ticket have put Anthony Koutoufides as their first preference, Team Kouta’s deputy lord mayor candidate Intaj Khan said.

The race was clearly a four-way battle — Team Kouta, Team Reece, Team Wood and the Greens, he said.

“We are now extremely confident,’’ Mr Khan said.

“Anthony Koutoufides is not a politician, we all know that, but he is a leader who will be fighting for Melbourne.’’

The move makes the contest a clear choice between Labor, the Greens and Wood, or Reece, Anthony Koutoufides and the Liberals. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mr Morgan told the Herald Sun he put the Greens last.

The Greens are preferencing Jamal Hakim’s ticket, then the Animal Justice Party and Voices for Melbourne.

Independent Anthony van der Craats, whose Rip Up The Bike Lanes is top of the ballot paper, has been put last by the Greens.

Mr van der Craats, a Labor Party member, is believed to be backing Mr Reece.

The community-based Voices for Melbourne ticket has declared it would guide preferences to Team Wood, the Greens and Labor, over the loose alliance of Team Kouta, Team Reece and the Liberals.

Preferences were required to be declared to the Victorian Electoral Commission by midday Monday.

The VEC will mail ballot packs to Melbourne residents and businesses from Monday, October 7.

The deadline for Melbourne residents and businesses to vote for the new Lord Mayor and council is October 25.

Originally published as Former Labor heavyweight snubbed by party in council preferences bombshell