Jake Keogh, 23, elected mayor of Knox Council

He’s only been able to vote for five years, but 23-year-old Jake Keogh says he is cut out for his new role leading Knox Council.

At 23, Jake Keogh (right) is the new mayor of Knox. He’s pictured with deputy mayor and Labor candidate for Bayswater Jackson Taylor.

HE MAY be just 23 but new Knox Mayor Jake Keogh says he is cut out for the role.

Cr Keogh, believed to be one of the youngest mayors in Victoria’s history, and the youngest ever to take the reigns at Knox, doesn’t see his age being a factor.

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“I feel like I’m capable of doing (the role), and my colleagues obviously agree with me and they were more than happy to vote for me unanimously,” Cr Keogh said.

“I know (my age) is something people want to talk about and rightfully question but I’m a big believer age, gender and ethnicity shouldn’t hold you back and if you’re capable of doing something you should do it, or give it a crack at least.”

Jake Keogh is the new mayor of Knox Council.

In 2013, Clare O’Neil became the youngest female mayor in Australian history when she was given the nod to lead Greater Dandenong Council at just 23, and in 2016 Cr David Eden became mayor of Kingston Council when he was just 22.

Cr Keogh, a Deakin University law student and member of the Labor Party, said he had no plans to run for state politics.

“No I’ve got no plan to, I’m loving council, I’ve got to finish my degree and hopefully use it because it’s cost me quite a bit of money,” he said.

Cr Keogh said with the state and federal elections coming up, he wanted to see money allocated for Knox projects including the expansion of the State Basketball Centre.

Meanwhile deputy mayor Cr Jackson Taylor, Labor’s new candidate for Bayswater, wasted no time hitting the campaign trail last week, and changing his councillor Facebook page to reflect his new role.

Knox councillor Jackson Taylor.

But people took to Knox Leader’s Facebook page to criticise Cr Taylor’s decision to run.

Meagan said councillors should have to complete their four-year terms before jumping ship to run for State Government.

Cr Taylor did not answer questions about how running as a state election candidate would affect his role as a councillor.

Knox Council corporate services director Michael Fromberg said in accordance with the Local Government Act if Cr Taylor was elected as the Member for Bayswater he would be unable to continue his position as councillor and deputy mayor.

Mr Fromberg said in this event, the Victorian Electoral Commission would at a future date conduct a by-election to fill the vacancy.

“At this stage, the state election outcome is of course unknown and therefore, any potential cost to ratepayers is purely speculative,” he said.

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