Council elections 2024: Who’s standing in the City of Ballarat
The full of list of candidates standing in Ballarat’s coming council is now available. Meet those who have thrown their hats in the ring.
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Both new and familiar faces make up the final list of candidates for the coming council election in the City of Ballarat.
Nominations have now closed opened for nine wards, each to have one councillor.
Previously, Ballarat has had three wards with three councillors each.
Election day is October 26.
See the list of candidates below, which will continue to be updated.
Of those in office at the moment, councillors Daniel Moloney and Peter Eddy will not be standing.
Alfredton Ward
Sundram Sivamalai
Dr Sundram Sivamalai is a candidate in Alfredon Ward.
Besides a life in nursing, he established and is the chair of Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council, now the peak multicultural agency in the Central Highlands Grampians Region.
Dr Sivamalai has been awarded a Centenary Medal for his work with migrants and Ballarat Citizen of the Year in 2021.
Nathan Anderson
Nathan Anderson is standing in Alfredton Ward.
He has lived in Alfredton and Lucas for five years and has experience in state and local government.
Mr Anderson is a single father of four and is involved with school councils and community activities.
He says he seeks to contribute more to his community as his children mature and has growing concerns with local decisions..
Maegan Boundey
Maegan Boundey is a single mother and program director at Red Tree Community Arts.
She is a former social worker with experience working in youth detention.
Ms Boundey has volunteered for Free Palestine Ballarat, Sovereign Hill, and Debaters Association of Victoria.
She aims to represent locals, not corporations or property developers, and promises to protect Victoria Park and make Alfredon walkable and accessible.
Elisa Zentveld
Dr Elisa Zentveld is a professor of social justice at Federation University, where she was the chair of the academic board for several years.
Ms Zentveld’s research focused on the intersection of family tourism and family violence.
She has won awards for her tourism research and education.
Damon Saunders
Damon Saunders is standing in Alfredton Ward.
Thomas Lam
Thomas Lam is standing in Alfredton Ward.
Brown Hill Ward
Ted Lapkin
Ted Lapkin is a former political adviser and has worked with federal ministers and US senators.
He has pledged to stop or lower a projected rates rise and has expressed dissatisfaction with the condition of roads and overspending by the council.
Mr Lapkin seeks accountability and transparency and says he will prioritise residents over bureaucrats if elected.
Ellen Burns
Ellen Burns grew up in Warrenheip and lived most of her life in Brown Hill.
She founded We Bar None and is the president and co-founder of The Hidden Orchard.
Ms Burns is an advocate for climate action, social justice, and improving Brown Hill residents’ quality of life.
She has concerns about density and overdevelopment, service provision, accessible public transport, a lack of footpaths and bike paths, and the protection of the environment.
Ms Burns ran as the Greens candidate for Wendouree in the 2022 state election.
Amy Johnson
Amy Johnson has been a North Ward councillor since 2012 and was deputy mayor for three terms from 2020 to 2023.
Her interests include public health, family and children’s services, the local economy, supporting business, and fostering a strong arts and events community in Ballarat.
Ms Johnson has experience as a non-executive director in government and not-for-profit sectors.
Buninyong Ward
Ben Taylor
Ben Taylor has been a South Ward councillor since 2008 and was mayor of the Ballarat in 2019 and 2020.
He lives near Buninyong with his wife and four children.
Mr Taylor seeks to encourage business and jobs growth and keep the council focused on local issues.
He promises to advocate for Buninyong, Mt Helen, and Mt Clear to receive their fair share of council attention.
Robert Pattie-Williams
Robert Pattie-Williams is standing in Buninyong Ward.
He calls himself a progressive candidate and aims to focus on community to make Ballarat prosperous.
Mr Pattie-Williams argues for a city well-connected by public transport, a campaign to help stamp out violence, and sustainable growth which limits urban sprawl.
Mark Jones
Mark Jones is standing in Buninyong Ward.
Central Ward
Samantha McIntosh
Samantha McIntosh has been a Central Ward councillor since 2008 and was mayor in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
She is in favour of strong partnerships with government and the private sector to complete projects for the city and benefit the economy.
Ms McIntosh’s focus is on a council vision that continues to create jobs, attract investment, and provide essential services.
Ms McIntosh stood as a Liberal candidate for the state seat of Wendouree in 2022.
Belinda Coates
Belinda Coates has been a Central Ward councillor for 12 years and has been deputy mayor twice.
She is an advocate for Indigenous and LGBTQIA+ people, cultural inclusion, gender equity, disability access, and the rights of children, young people, and elderly residents.
Ms Coates is also interested in action on climate change, caring for the environment, and making it easier to walk, cycle and catch public transport around Ballarat.
John Stoneman
John Stoneman is standing in Central Ward.
Duncan Smith
Duncan Smith is standing in Central Ward.
Delacombe Ward
Gab Salkowski
Gab Salkowski is a Redan mum of two children and a community services worker.
Since plays local football and netball, volunteers for L2P and ParkRun, and has worked at Headspace and in school wellbeing.
Ms Salkowski’s concerns include food insecurity, housing, and employment issues.
She wants to help make Ballarat a safer place for young people and assist in breaking families out of poverty.
Tracey Hargreaves
Tracey Hargreaves has been a South Ward councillor since 2020.
She owns Absolute Yoga & Pilates and is a part-time teacher at Mount Clear College, raising her own family locally.
Ms Hargreaves is interested in keeping council focused on the basics and ensuring Delacombe is allocated sufficient resources.
Tom Madden
Tom Madden has experience in infrastructure planning, economic development, and the visitor economy.
He says his vision for Ballarat is a vibrant and inclusive city where innovation meets heritage.
His priorities are sustainable growth and local businesses, community wellbeing and safety, and ensuring every voice is heard.
Kalyan Velagala
Kalyan Velagala is standing in Delacombe Ward.
Sebastian Borys
Sebastian Borys is standing in Delacombe Ward.
He has worked in various industries in Ballarat.
Mr Borys says his focus is to listen and take action to build a vibrant city with new ideas.
Golden Point Ward
Mark Harris
Mark Harris has spent a dozen years as a Central Ward councillor and was mayor in 2011.
He was director of St John of God’s emergency department and worked with the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Alfred Hospital.
Mr Harris was also an army medical officer in the ADF, deployed to Bougainville and on secondment to the United Nations in East Timor.
He helped manage Covid-19 in nursing homes and public housing.
Tess Morgan
Tess Morgan is standing in Golden Point Ward.
She believes in getting the basics right first by listening to the residents of Redan, Mount Pleasant, Golden Point, Ballarat East, Eureka, and Canadian.
Ms Morgan is also an advocate for safer lighting and paths.
Adrik Wright
Adrik Wright is a research agronomist working to improve food production.
He has a history of volunteering, including in youth mentoring, community exhibitions, the Ballarat Local Food Coalition and Gardens for Wildlife Ballarat.
Mr Wright believes nature needs to be protected and nourished.
He promises to fight for improved road safety, climate action, biodiversity, and food security.
Phillip Yordonopulo
Phillip Yordonopulo is standing in Golden Point Ward.
He has worked at the Ballarat Municipal Observatory and Museum.
Ray Borner
Ray Borner is a former NBL and four-time Olympic basketball player.
He has spent the past 24 years in Ballarat, raising his family in Golden Point.
Mr Borner is eager to find innovative solutions to make Ballarat a place to live and work, including by giving attention to shared places like parks and sports facilities.
He values unity and team spirit, and says he is committed to fosetering wellbeing and solidarity in Ballarat.
Mr Borner is keen to bring a spirit of progress to the council and respect the needs of community members.
Dion Cartledge
Dion Cartledge is standing in Golden Point Ward.
Josh Whittingham
Josh Whittingham is standing in Golden Point Ward.
Stephen Jones
Stephen Jones is standing in Golden Point Ward.
North Ward
Rebecca McIntosh
Rebecca McIntosh is standing in North Ward.
She believes in honesty and doing what’s right for Ballarat.
David Harris
David Harris is a North Ward candidate.
He says his core values are integrity, fairness, and community.
Mr Harris has expressed a desire to ensure residents have strong family services, and that the North Ward gets its fair share of council spending on roads.
Jim Rinaldi
Jim Rinaldi is standing in North Ward.
Glenn Rogers
Glenn Rogers is standing in North Ward.
Sebastopol Ward
Des Hudson
Des Hudson has been a South Ward councillor since 2002 and the mayor since 2022.
He is a serving member of Victoria Police and is involved with various community organisations.
Mr Hudson is focused on community safety and wellbeing and improving Ballarat residents’ quality of life.
He is interested in attracting investment and making sure the city’s infrastructure keeps pace with growth.
Colin Muir
Colin Muir is standing in Sebastopol Ward.
Wendouree Ward
Kristen Justin
Kristen Justin is a candidate for Wendouree Ward.
She believes in a giving Ballarat a fresh voice for a thriving future.
Ms Justin is focused on making Ballarat a vibrant place to live, with services, facilities, and activities available to residents of all ages.
Jay Morrison
Jay Morrison is standing in Wendouree Ward.
He believes Ballarat is a wonderful place to live and raise a family thanks to its community, lifestyle, history, public places, nature, and services.
Mr Morrison is a volunteer and believes in community service.
Joshua Morris
Joshua Morris is a teacher at St Patrick’s College, Ballarat, was the city’s mayor in 2013-14 and a member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 2014 to 2018.
His focus is on the council getting the basics right - roads, rates, and rubbish.
He believes potholes need to be mended, does not support increasing rates, and thinks the council should scrap plans to make weekly rubbish collections fortnightly.
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