Council elections 2024: Who’s running for Mildura council
Candidates have put their hand up to represent you in the 2024 Mildura council election. Find out more about who’ll be on your ballot papers.
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Nominations for the upcoming Mildura council election opened on September 9, with several candidates confirming their intention to run under the new ward-based system.
Below is a list of the current candidates and the wards they will be contesting.
This list will be updated as more candidates announce their nominations. For any questions about council elections, check out our comprehensive FAQ.
City Gate Ward
Eric Baumann
Eric Baumann has announced he is running for the City Gate Ward.
He has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Katie Clements
Katie Clements is running in the City Gate Ward, promising fresh ideas, open-mindedness, and a varied perspective.
Ms Clements has run in previous council elections as a Greens candidate, but this time around she will run as an independent.
A teacher who has taught at multiple schools in the Sunraysia region, Ms Clements is a former member of the Australian Education Union.
Ms Clements has lived in the City Gate Ward for the past 15 years and says a strong focus for her, if elected, will be advocacy for health services.
“Access to health services, especially mental health services, is a key issue for all residents. I will be an advocate for the support of any services council can provide, as well as for the Victorian state government to step up and assist our council,” Ms Clements said.
In addition to health services, she said a sustainable economy would also be a top priority.
“A vibrant, growing community needs a vibrant, growing local economy. While tourism is a vital component of this, we need to also ensure there are sustainable industries and businesses to support local workers all year round,” she said.
She also has strong views on developing opportunities for youth and newcomers to the community.
“The future of our community is our youth and newcomers to our area. We need to ensure newcomers are welcomed and supported, and that there are engaging, relevant, and youth-led initiatives for young people to feel connected to our community,” Ms Clements said.
Henderson Park Ward
Helen Healy
Former Mildura deputy mayor, Helen Healy, is running in the Henderson Park Ward in the 2024 local government election.
Ms Healy said the three key issues affecting Mildura council were affordable and social housing, rate reform “to ensure the federal and state government give us our fair share to alleviate pressure on ratepayers”, and “reducing obstacles to progress to ensure we grow infrastructure, jobs and services”.
Ms Healy said she was a member of the Greens about eight years ago but was running as an independent.
She lives in the Henderson Park ward.
Liam Wood
Current Mildura mayor, Liam Wood, has announced he is running for re-election in the Henderson Park Ward.
Mr Wood said he was passionate about representing the region that had given him so many opportunities
“I have the energy to represent for another council term. A strong foundation for council has been built over the last four years and we are in an exciting time,” Mr Wood told the Herald Sun.
Mr Wood is an independent candidate and has never been a part of any political party or union.
He proudly calls the Henderson Park Ward home as well.
“With the right councillors MRCC will have a very positive future. I am proud of the work I have put in thus far and really want to be a part of the long term future decision making for our community,” Mr Wood said.
Karadoc Ward
Rebecca Crossling
The Karadoc ward had one vacancy, and with Rebecca Crossling the only candidate, the working mum and wife will take a seat on Mildura council.
Ms Crossling is passionate about Mildura and believes it has an exciting future.
“As a working mum, and wife of a small-business owner, I understand the challenges our community faces, but I can also see many opportunities to make our region an even better place to live, work and play,” Ms Crossling said.
Ms Crossling has no political affiliations and has never been a part of any union. The council candidate does not live in the Karadoc region, but has strong family ties there.
“(Karadoc) was the ward that felt right for me,” Ms Crossling said.
She hopes to bring a fresh perspective to local government and says Mildura needs to seize the moment with so many families relocating to regional areas.
“I believe Mildura should be seizing the opportunity, as more Aussies are now looking to regional Australia to live and work,” Ms Crossling said
“Given our distance from capital cities, it’s crucial council continue investing in facilities, services and events that make our community an exciting place to live and visit.”
Ms Crossling also hopes to help council find a way to ease cost of living burdens for both people and businesses in the region.
“With the national economy slowing right now, our council must focus on growing our own local economy and doing what’s possible, at a local government level, to respond to cost of living pressures for our community and businesses,” she said.
Kings Billabong Ward
Rohan Morris
Rohan Morris, an independent candidate running for the Kings Billabong Ward, says he is dedicated to civic pride and community engagement.
Mr Morris, who lives in the ward, said he was hoping to be a “voice for the community, advocating for better services, fostering local pride, and driving positive change for the future of our region”.
“When we invest in our local community, we’re not just building better infrastructure — we’re building pride, ownership, and a legacy that the next generation will be proud of,” he said.
“The key challenges highlighted recently in the Red Cliffs and Carwarp Community Plan surveys include the absence of banking services, a shortage of childcare facilities, limited access to medical services, increasing crime rates, and an inadequate police presence.
“The top priorities identified as most beneficial include the establishment of a bank, expanded childcare services, new toilet facilities, improved footpaths and walking tracks, and enhanced facilities for youth.”
Mr Morris, who said he had never been a member of a political party or union, said regional families were struggling with affordable childcare.
“Addressing this issue by advocating for more childcare facilities and family support services will greatly benefit the community,” he said.
He is also campaigning for more sustainable development and infrastructure.
“As the community grows, there is often tension between development and preserving the natural environment,” he said.
“Ensuring sustainable growth while maintaining public spaces, roads, and other infrastructure is crucial to supporting future needs.”
He wanted to support small businesses as the local economy relied heavily on them.
To this end, Mr Morris believes in strengthening local businesses through grants and networking opportunities.
“Leading for tomorrow demands new ways of thinking. It’s about looking beyond the present challenges and finding innovative solutions that benefit the entire community,” he said.
Glenn Milne
Sitting councillor Glenn Milne will run for re-election in the Kings Billabong Ward, an area his family has had an attachment to for more than a century.
Mr Milne believes there should be a “statewide rating system where everyone pays the same rates for the same value property”.
“Country people deserve a far better rates deal,” he said.
He also said, if elected, he would campaign for a better roads deal from the state government.
“Our roads are falling apart because the state has spent the bulk of taxes in Melbourne,” he said.
Mr Milne also believes Mildura needs local health services that are at the same standard as those in Melbourne.
“Country people are important and deserve to live in good health,” he said.
Born and still living in the Kings Billabong Ward, Mr Milne was a member of the National Party between 2015 and 2018 but is running as an independent candidate.
Lake Ranfurly Ward
Troy Bailey
Troy Bailey has announced his intention to run for re-election to the Mildura council in the new Lake Ranfurly Ward.
He lives in the Lake Ranfurly Ward and has never had any political affiliations or union memberships.
Mr Bailey said rates, rubbish, and safety were three of the main issues affecting the region, claiming a rural youth crime epidemic was damaging businesses and unfairly affecting innocent youth.
“There is currently an epidemic occurring in rural communities with youth crime. While we are told there is nothing to be concerned about, businesses are suffering, and innocent youth have few safe places to socialise,” Mr Bailey said.
The candidate also said Mildura ratepayers were paying disproportionate rates.
“(Mildura has) the highest rates as a percentage of income in the state. Our community cannot afford to allocate more of their income than every other council to rates; this is regressive taxation,” Mr Bailey said.
He pointed out that a lack of bin space for general waste was impacting the back pockets of families in Mildura.
“Like many councils, we are not supplied with enough bin space to dispose of our general waste, causing families to pay to have it removed – yet another cost burden brought on us by council.”
Paul O’Neill
Murray Valley Aboriginal Co-operative (MVAC) boss Paul O’Neill is running for the Lake Ranfurly ward on Mildura council.
A board member of the Mildura Base Public Hospital, Mr O’Neill has experience in senior management across international banking and finance and Indigenous organisations.
Mr O’Neill ran in the 2020 elections, when the council had a make up of nine positions across the region, rather than nine individual wards with one councillor in each.
He has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Stefano de Pieri
Current councillor, Stefano de Pieri, is looking to understand and address the unique issues that face Lake Ranfurly as the region transitions to the new ward system.
He believes his experience will hold him in good stead as he campaigns for another term.
“I believe in easing the financial burden on our community. Moving forward, it’s crucial that our Council is led by experienced individuals who understand the challenges we face today,” Mr de Pieri said.
He has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Mildura Wetlands Ward
Ali Cupper
Ali Cupper has announced she’s running for the Mildura Wetlands ward, having previously been an independent MP in Victoria between 2018 and 2022.
She’s also previously been on council, at one stage as deputy mayor, and has worked as a lawyer, social worker and business owner.
Ms Cupper told the Herald Sun she was keeping her policies simple with “rates, roads, rail”.
Ms Cupper was a member of the Australian Labor Party for about a year in university, and then again from about 2009 to 2012 when she ran as Labor’s candidate for Mildura in the 2010 state election.
“I resigned from the Labor Party in 2012 because I was told I wasn’t allowed to talk about the passenger train (or lack of), and the party was lukewarm about the push to bring our hospital back to public management,” she told the Herald Sun.
“These were two critical issues for our community, so I left the party.”
She has also previously been a member of the Australian Services Union and the Community and Public Sector Union.
While she doesn’t live in the Mildura Wetlands ward, she has been involved in the Mildura community for a long time and said she wanted to work with other strong candidates in their wards, rather than compete with them.
“I know our community well,” she said in a statement online.
“I lived in Mildura until I was five, Irymple until I was 13, Sunnycliffs until I was 19 and Birdwoodton for two stints in between.
“I purchased my first home in Mildura at 27 and my second home in Nichols Point at 39. How do you choose one ward when you’re connected to them all?”
Ms Cupper said she was choosing the Mildura Wetlands Ward because it was the “epicentre” of the LGA and where she knew its residents best.
“If elected, I would fight for local roads and public transport including passenger rail, for better disability and autism support, for a whole-of-council approach to children and young people, for a Kittyhawk Museum honouring our war history, and for regional rate reform, to address a major, local cost-of-living pressure,” she said.
David Esposito
David Esposito is a sales representative at Sunraysia Petroleum who is running for the Mildura Wetlands Ward in the upcoming election.
The Herald Sun has endeavoured to contact Mr Esposito, but has not yet had a response.
Millewa Ward
Domenico Capogreco
Domenico Capogreco has nominated for a spot on Mildura council.
The Herald Sun has made efforts to contact Mr Capogreco but no contact details were provided to the VEC.
Ian Richard Arney
Ian Arney is running for re-election in the Millewa Ward.
He farms at Werrimull, has three children and has lived in the municipality for 50 years.
He has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Julie Waters
Julie Waters is running in the 2024 election, in the ward of Millewa.
Ms Waters said she was unhappy with rates continually rising each year and the rubbish bin collection in Mildura was a “mess”.
“(It’s) an ever increasing frustration for all residents,” she said, arguing for a quarterly hard rubbish collection to “alleviate the ever increasing dumping of these items in our scrubland and … developing housing subdivisions”.
Ms Waters said she was running as an independent and had never been part of a political party or union.
“I am not affiliated with any political party and strongly say politics does not belong inside the Council Chamber as we are elected to represent our community members for the betterment of our community and its members, not push our own personal or political agendas,” she said.
Ms Waters lives on the border of the ward and owns a second property within Millewa ward.
She said she had a strong connection with the Millewa region, having been born there and living there until she was four years old.
She said her grandparents also lived in the area until they died.
I reside on the border of the Ward I have nominated but saying that I do own property within the Ward I have nominated for along with being born in this Ward and residing with my family until I was four years of age but my grandparents lived in this area till they passed along with my uncle.
Ms Waters ran in the 2020 Mildura shire election and has kept a close eye on the most recent council.
Annette Lambert
Annette Lambert is running in the Millewa Ward.
She has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
James O’Day
James O’Day has nominated for the Millewa Ward.
He has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Carli Leishman
Carli Leishman, a local resident of Merbein, is passionate about making her community a better place to live, work, and raise a family.
She has held various community volunteer roles, including Merbein Development Association secretary and Rights Information Advocacy Centre board chair.
The Millewa Ward candidate says local infrastructure is not keeping pace with the growing communities and there is a lack of footpaths, pedestrian crossings and bike paths.
“A general sentiment across the region that rates are too high and certain services aren’t provided” is another key issue she’ll be campaigning on, including the set number of free green and hard rubbish collections per year.
Ms Leishman also believes there should be more investment in recreation spaces for children and young people.
She says she is not and has never been a member of a political party or union.
Nowingi Place Ward
Mark Eckel
There was speculation about whether Mildura’s current deputy mayor, Mark Eckel, would run in this year’s election.
He has allayed those concerns and announced his intention to run in the Nowingi Place Ward.
Although he doesn’t live in that specific ward, there are a number of passion projects in the area Mr Eckel believes an experience hand will be needed to see those projects through to fruition.
He said it was a location he’d “been associated with for over 40 years”.
“I assisted in raising three children in Eunvea Dr, sending them to St Pauls School,” he said.
“I spent some of my childhood in Magnolia Ave.
“My contribution in this ward stretches 20 years and as your current deputy mayor and past mayor, I will work toward residential growth, thoughtful use of the recreation reserve and George Chaffey Bridge approach with the continued Marina development.”
Mr Eckel said he was a “strong advocate” for reducing the percentage of residential rates in the 2022/23 budget and would “continue to work towards equity in the rating system”.
The White Ribbon Ambassador says Nowingi Place Ward “relies on the wellbeing and financial sustainability of the whole municipality”.
“I value the critical importance of health services, aged care, education and housing.”
Mr Eckel has never had any political affiliation, and has never been a member of any union.
Jodi Reynolds
Current councillor, Jodi Reynolds, will run for re-election in the Nowingi Place Ward.
Ms Reynolds recently penned an open letter criticising both the mayor and deputy mayor for running in wards against the only two current female councillors.
“I am deeply disappointed by the decision of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, two of the most powerful men in our community, to run against the only two female councillors in the upcoming elections,” Ms Reynolds wrote.
Ms Reynolds told the Herald Sun she will not be responding to the questions sent to her.
Sunset Country Ward
Greg Brown
Greg Brown is returning to the council after stepping down prior to the 2020 council election. A farmer from Underbool, he is running to ensure that the Sunset Country Ward is adequately represented.
It is understood Mr Brown intends to highlight the issues of farmers paying substantially more rates than their city peers.
Mr Brown told the Herald Sun he has no interest in participating in this article.
He was the only candidate in the Sunset Country ward and will be declared after voting closes on October 25.
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