Meet the Mildura Rural City Council election candidates
A celebrity cook, a geologist and a hypnobirthing practitioner are among the candidates for Mildura Rural City Council at this year’s elections. Find out why they’re running.
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A field of 18 candidates are vying for spots on the nine-member Mildura Rural City Council.
The field covers a diverse range of backgrounds and with only five current councillors recontesting, there are plenty of newcomers.
Here’s an introduction to each of the candidates.
Liam Wood
Mildura business owner Liam Wood, who narrowly missed out on a council spot in 2016, has again stuck his hand up.
The publican has spoken about the need to focus on the region’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, with tourism and major events held up as key.
Mr Wood is the brother of Melbourne Lord Mayor aspirant Arron Wood.
Ian Arney
Millewa dryland livestock and grain farmer Ian Arney is running for the first time, aiming to be a voice for the municipality‘s rural areas and small towns.
Mr Arney, who owns a farm at Werrimull, got a close-up look at the workings of council in recent years as the Millewa battled drought.
Kym Kingdon
Murrayville organic farmer Kym Kingdon is a community advocate who wants to make sure regional areas are represented in council decisions.
Mr Kingdon bought the old Murrayville school and turned it into accommodation, Jacob’s Well Retreat, and has also been involved with local issues, including wetlands, walking trails and fuel supply.
Mark Eckel
Long-serving councillor Mark Eckel is seeking a sixth term, having been part of the council as several major projects got off the ground.
A familiar face to many, Cr Eckel says he offers an experienced pair of hands after the departure of many councillors in recent years.
He has most recently held the economic and tourism development portfolio and he is involved in the campaign to prevent violence against women.
Paul O’Neill
CEO and board member Paul O’Neill is a first-time candidate who wants an “effective, efficient” council for ratepayers.
Mr O’Neill is chief executive of Murray Valley Aboriginal Co-operative and is on the new Mildura Base Public Hospital board.
He also wants to help local businesses “survive and thrive”.
Jason Modica
Current councillor and Nichols Point “tradie” Jason Modica aims for a second term.
Cr Modica is vocal on water issues, campaigning for the health of the Murray-Darling Basin.
He has spent time as deputy mayor and was an independent federal candidate for Mallee in 2019.
Domenico Capogreco
Domenico Capogreco ran for election in 2016, attracting 1.5 per cent of first-preference votes in a crowded field of candidates.
He is a third-generation grape grower.
Stefano de Pieri
Celebrity cook Stefano de Pieri, famous for his A Gondola on the Murray series in the 1990s, has promised to stir the pot if elected to council.
Mr de Pieri has spoken about services and funding, and the need for Mildura to be treated as a distinct region, not part of Loddon or Bendigo.
He has worked in the Victorian Government and has lived in Mildura for the past 30 years.
Gavin Sedgmen
Merbein’s Gavin Sedgmen was elected on countback during the current term of council.
Cr Sedgmen has been involved in local motorsport and is an advocate of building a new motorsport precinct, one of council’s four Future Ready projects.
He also wants to see traffic returned to the Langtree Mall and red tape reduced.
Katie Clements
Greens candidate Katie Clements is a high school teacher who wants to make sure the environment is looked after.
Ms Clements has also spoken about improving mental health, supporting migrants and reducing the gap between the advantaged and disadvantaged.
She describes her interest in politics, media and government as a “lifelong passion”.
Troy Bailey
Troy Bailey says he wants to see Mildura businesses develop and grow, as well as more education opportunities and health services.
Cyndi Power
Mildura hypnobirthing practitioner and business owner Cyndi Power has placed being a voice for women and women’s health among her priorities.
The dual Australian-American citizen wants council to collaborate with industry to bring health professionals to the region for the long term.
Ms Power says she has a history of effective, proven advocacy.
Glenn Milne
Experienced councillor and former mayor Glenn Milne is seeking support for another term.
Cr Milne has spoken of the need for councillors and candidates to focus on roads, rates and rubbish, rather than broader agendas.
He is advocating for a rates freeze, following community outcry over rate rises in recent years.
Angy Fikaris
Angy Fikaris has long been involved in the community, is a former Sunraysia Community Health Services board member and has experience in the banking industry.
Julie Waters
Mildura born and bred Julie Waters first ran for council in 2016 and wants councillors to do the right thing for the community and for there to be an injection of fresh ideas.
Vocal on local issues, Ms Waters says in recent years councillors and the council had been too removed from community input and wants more accountability.
She wants to see the mall returned to a street and for tourism to be developed.
Helen Healy
Event manager Helen Healy joined the council during the last term as a replacement for Ali Cupper, who departed for state politics.
She held the community development and gender equity portfolio.
Cr Healy has listed gender equity, growing the economy, the natural environment, truth and reconciliation, and representing the whole of the region as her priorities.
Dean Wickham
Former Sunraysia Mallee Ethnic Communities Council executive officer Dean Wickham is stepping into the political arena.
He recently finished up after 13 years at SMECC, which works with multicultural communities and families in the region.
Mr Wickham is originally from the Solomon Islands and was this year appointed an Adjunct Research Fellow of La Trobe University.
Jodi Reynolds
Jodi Reynolds, a geologist who is currently studying an environment management policy degree, was among the first candidates to announce.
Some of the issues she has mentioned include job creation, mental health services, council accountability, securing funding, equity and diversity and getting a return on rates.
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