Yarra Council election contender’s ‘brazen campaign’ for sitting councillor

A wannabe Yarra councillor is raising eyebrows as he openly campaigns for another candidate.

Michael Glynatsis is a current councillor seeking re-election on Yarra council. Picture: Supplied.

Voters are being told to use social media to research wannabe councillors amid fears “dummy candidates” are being used to beef-up votes for certain contenders.

More than 100 candidates for next month’s council elections have failed to provide the Victorian Electoral Commission with all the information requested including their political affiliations and contact details.

Others have used their VEC candidate statement – which is included on ballot papers – for preference deals or to urge voters to support another candidate.

Yarra Council candidate Simon Geminder has used both his candidate statement and questionnaire to sing the praises of another candidate running in the same ward – sitting councillor Michael Glynatsis.

Yarra Council candidate Michael Glynatsis is being openly backed by another contender. Picture: Josie Hayden

“I just want to say, if you are sick of fake environmentalists running the show, make sure that you vote for Michael Glynatsis as your #1 preference,” Mr Geminder’s statement said.

Mr Glynatsis was also listed as a contact for Mr Geminder.

“Just go to Michael Glynatsis instead. He “101 per cent agrees” (his words) with my views contained here, and is the much stronger candidate with actual council experience and time commitment to put in the hard yards.”

Mr Glynatsis initially told the Herald Sun he wasn’t aware of Mr Geminder’s statement.

However, when asked if Mr Geminder had his written consent to refer to him – as required under VEC rules – he agreed he had seen the statement prior to it being published on the Commission website.

“He (Mr Geminder) is legit though. We do share the same views,” Mr Glynatsis said.

He said he first met Mr Geminder about 12 months ago and had helped him find somewhere to live after he was made homeless when his landlord “locked him out”.

The pair found they were like minded on housing, bikes, cars and trees.

Mr Geminder told the Herald Sun he was not comfortable discussing his candidacy.

Council Watch president Dean Hurlston Picture: Kiel Egging.

Council Watch president Dean Hurlston said the IT worker could be seen as a “dummy candidate” and the “brazen campaign” should be reported to the Local Government Inspectorate.

He added all candidates should be accessible to the community and “silence was worrying”.

“Candidates don’t run for office and not campaign if they’re real,” he said.

Mr Hurlston was also surprised the VEC had recommended ratepayers turn to social media to inform their vote.

“It’s well established that the internet is not always a source of truth,” he said.

He added: “Holding elections via postal vote and not making it compulsory for candidates to provide details about their campaigns left voters in the position of having to hunt down candidates if they wanted to know more.”

The VEC cannot compel candidates to publicly reveal anything more that their first and last names, even on ballot papers.

“Under the law we must accept nominations if a candidate is eligible to be a councillor and has successfully completed the nomination process,” a VEC spokesperson said.

“We can’t ask about a candidate’s motivation for nominating.”

The VEC only accepts nominations in person and each candidate is checked they are enrolled for the council they nominated for.

All candidates have the option of providing a statement and questionnaire which included their vision for the council and expertise they would bring to the councillor role.

The questionnaire also asked if they had read the council plan and the councillor code of conduct and if they were endorsed by a registered political party.

There were 2231 candidates vying for 646 council vacancies in 466 separate elections.

Nillumbik Shire had the highest number of contenders who did not include a contact or questionnaire answers with six of 35 nominees providing only a candidate statement.

Voters were also left in the dark about Greater Dandenong candidate Love Agravante who provided only her name and photo.