Former Adelaide City councillors Anne Moran and Franz Knoll among nominees for Central Ward by-election

One of city’s most outspoken ex-councillors is officially in the re-election race after a landmark court ruling found the 2022 results plagued by ‘illegal practices’.

Anne Moran has nominated for the Adelaide City Council Central Ward by-election. Picture: Emma Brasier

A retail boss, small business owners and a former outspoken councillor, who says Adelaide City Council needs “maturity”, are in the race for the Central Ward by-election.

Nominations for the four positions open on Thursday, after a landmark court ruling in April found the 2022 election of its candidates was affected by “illegal practices”.

Carmel Noon, David Elliott, Simon Hou and Jing Li immediately lost their positions, triggering the by-election with results to be known on September 18.

Previous council term members Anne Moran and Franz Knoll have each said they will vie for a seat, after they both failed in their 2022 re-election bids.

“I’ve been watching council meetings and I think Jane (Lomax-Smith) needs a bit of support and there’s a need for experience on the council and maturity,” Ms Moran, a 27-year local government veteran, said.

“I think cooler heads need to reign, it’s got a bit out of control.”

Mr Knoll, owner of Barossa Fine Foods and Angelakis Bros, said smart decisions must be made to bring people back to the city, referencing a council proposal to cut Hutt St parking as part of a controversial main street upgrade.

Adelaide City Council candidate Franz Knoll. Picture Dean Martin

“If you do not design the street and environment to be amazing, people will not want to go back to the office ... and it must be done in conjunction with businesses,” he said.

Ms Noon and Mr Elliott, who was deputy lord mayor, have both previously stated they aimed to win back their seats.

Former Adelaide City Councillor Carmel Noon. Picture: Supplied

Former Adelaide City Councillor David Elliott. Picture: Supplied

“My term has been interrupted by events out of my control and I feel the need to return to council to continue our mandate,” Ms Noon’s election material reads.

Mr Hou and Mr Li – who was at the centre of the vote-harvesting scandal – both will not contest the by-election.

“Although there was no direct findings against me ... and I am entitled to recontest, the process has exhausted me,” Mr Li said.

“I will focus on rebuilding my life and career and spend more time with family.”

SA Independent Retailers boss Colin Shearing will make his first tilt at the council on a platform advocating for the business community – “I’ll do that until I die”.

“I think it’s important to have a thriving community and you need a strong business community – you can’t have one without the other,” Mr Shearing said.

He wants to change the voter eligibility in elections as city businesses in shared office spaces were not all entitled to vote, but non residents who live in the city for a month were.

“Equity and fairness are important to me,” he said.

Other candidates to publicly declare their intention include Adelaide Park Lands Association deputy president and small business owner Ben Ayris and Declan Price-Brooks.

Originally published as Former Adelaide City councillors Anne Moran and Franz Knoll among nominees for Central Ward by-election