Monash Council forced into countback after Cr Steve Dimopoulos wins Oakleigh seat in State Election

UPDATE: Former Monash mayor Stefanie Perri would welcome the opportunity to return to council in a vote countback after a councillor was elevated to Spring St.

Dimopoulos victory triggers council countback

AS ONE Monash councillor leaves to become the member for Oakleigh, a former Monash councillor may return to council.

Former Monash mayor Stefanie Perri has said she would “welcome the opportunity” to return to the council in a vote countback.

An Oakleigh ward seat was vacated after councillor Steve Dimopoulos was elected as the new Oakleigh state Labor MP on the weekend, with a 58.05 per cent of the two candidate preferred vote.

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) would hold a countback for the Oakleigh ward seat on December 22 in the Council Chambers at 9.30am.

It would be the second this term, after Cr Rebecca Paterson replaced Cr Tom Morrissey who died in 2013.

Mr Dimopoulos’ votes would be redistributed to unsuccessful candidates according to voters’ preferences.

Ms Perri, who ran as the Labor candidate for Box Hill in this year’s state election, also served on the council from 2008-2012.

It is anticipated that former Monash mayor Stefanie Perri, who contested the seat of Box Hill for the Labor Party, would be invited to return.

Stefanie Perri having lost the seat of Box Hill, will welcome the chance to return to Monash Council.

She said if she was approached by the VEC she would be pleased to return to the council.

Ms Perri said she would want to re-familiarise herself with council issues before nominating her priorities as a councillor.

“But I’ve lived in Monash my whole life so I’ve been experiencing council but from the perspective of a local resident, which I think has been really helpful,” Ms Perri said.

“It has allowed me look at council with fresh eyes.”

Ms Perri said she would be keen to re-engage on certain issues, including violence against women, the council’s Environmental Sustainability Road Map, and the Womens Business Network.

Ms Perri said parking remained a big problem in Oakleigh and she would be keen to learn what the council had planned.

“Anyone who has been anywhere near Oakleigh in the past 10 years knows that parking is a key issue,” Ms Perri said.

Ms Perri also congratulated Mr Dimopoulos, saying his election success was “a great outcome for Oakleigh”.

Her sentiment was echoed Mayor Paul Klisaris, who said Mr Dimopoulos “knows all the local issues like the back of his hand” and would be an “outstanding advocate” for the Oakleigh electorate.

“It is sad to see him go from council but we’ll continue to work with him closely to deliver great things for the people of Oakleigh,” Cr Klisaris said.

Cr Klisaris also welcomed back councillors Robert Davies and Theo Zographos, who both took leave from the council to run as Liberal candidates in the election.

Meanwhile Mt Waverley state Liberal MP Michael Gidley retained his seat with 53.4 per cent of the two candidate preferred vote as of Sunday. Mt Waverley Labor candidate and Manningham councillor Jennifer Yang said she was “positive and appreciative” of the support she’d received during the campaign and not yet considered her political future.

Overall the three main seats in Monash remained unchanged as the Labor Party retained Oakleigh and Mulgrave and the Liberals retained Mt Waverley.

Oakleigh Labor man Steve Dimopoulos is all smiles on the campaign trail with rescue dog Zoe.