Council elections 2024: Who’s running for Merri-bek
Nominations have now closed for the Merri-bek council elections. See the final list of candidates who have put their hands up to serve you.
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Merri-bek City Council elections are coming up quickly and many candidates have put their hands up.
Merri-bek council will have 11 wards with one councillor in each ward. It previously had three wards with 11 councillors in total.
Of the sitting councillors, seven — including Mayor Adam Pulford and Deputy Mayor Lambros Tapinos — have announced they will be running for next term.
Former mayor and councillor Mark Riley and James Conlan will not be running again.
Check out the final list of the candidates who have come forward to serve the community.
Have other questions about the election? We answer everything you need to know and more here.
Bababi Djinanang Ward
Hassaan Gul
Hassaan Gul is the Labor-endorsed candidate for Bababi Dijnanag Ward in the upcoming Merri-bek council elections.
Mr Gul has lived in Fawkner and Coburg for more than 15 years and is a father and community advocate.
Mr Gul said he was running for council because he believed the community needed a “strong, local voice to address local issues that matter most”.
Mr Gul’s priorities include more lighting in parks, betters public toilets, reducing litter and dumped rubbish, affordable public facilities and advocating for better transport.
Mr Hassan has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Lynton Joseph
Lynton Joseph is an independent candidate running for Bababi Dijnanag Ward in the upcoming Merri-bek council elections.
Mr Joseph said he wanted to work with the community to forge a brighter, more inclusive future.
“As someone who has seen first-hand the impacts of these unprecedented times on both businesses and individuals,” he said.
“I’m passionate about making Merri-Bek a safer, more inclusive place to live by focusing on community safety, protecting our green spaces, and providing better support for our youth.
“With years of experience in local programs and community service, I’m committed to real action — not just photo ops.”
Mr Joseph said the top three key issues impacting Merri-bek were safety, open space preservation and youth support.
He said the council needed to ensure Merri-Bek is a safer place to live, with better community security and support systems.
Mr Joseph also said there more emphasis was needed on “protecting and developing what’s left of our valuable green and open spaces, balancing responsible urban development with the needs of the community”.
He also said the council needed to expand mentoring and support services for young adolescents, “ensuring they have access to mental health support, skill-building, and positive opportunities”.
Mr Joseph said he was not affiliated with any political party and had never been a member of a political party or union.
He lives in the Bababi Djininang ward.
Sue Bolton
Sue Bolton has been a sitting councillor at Merri-bek council for three terms and is running again as the Socialist Alliance candidate.
Ms Bolton has previously been a bus driver and a public servant with a strong history of involvement in campaigns for social justice and against discrimination as an active socialist.
She is passionate about issues like saving the Fawkner outdoor pool, opposing the closure of the Fawkner Bank & the Glenroy Post Office and saving council services liked aged care from privatisation.
Campaigning to fix the Upfield train line with duplication and opposing the genocide in Gaza are also issues she cares about.
Ms Bolton said the three main issues for her were the high cost of housing and cost of living, traffic accident hotspots and the lack of shade on playgrounds and streets.
Ms Bolton, who is a member of Socialist Alliance Party, said she was also a member of several trade unions including CPSU and RTBU.
Ms Bolton lives in Merri-bek but does not live in the ward she is running for.
Lance Sinclair
Lance Sinclair will be running for the Babaji Dijnanag Ward in the upcoming Merri-bek council elections.
Mr Sinclair, who is backed by the Greens, said if elected he would “put people before profit”.
“The Greens want to ensure more affordable housing built in Merri-bek so everyone has a place to call home,” he said.
“We have a wonderful community here in Fawkner but we all could do with more support.
“The Greens will push to upgrade streetscapes, improve footpaths and increase public funding for events.”
Mr Sinclair has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Box Forest Ward
Metin Golbasi
Greens candidate Metin Golbasi is a proud local of Merri-bek, who has spent his life living in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
Mr Golbasi is the son of a teacher and said he valued the power of education and its role in uplifting communities.
“That’s why I advocate for enhanced educational quality and opportunities for students,” he said.
Mr Golbasi works as a government investments and project manager and wants to use his experience to tackle community’s issues like: the cost of living crisis, clean and safe streets, rising homelessness, and the need for more investment into local roads, footpaths, parks and facilities
Mr Golbasi has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Lewis Moore
Victorian Socialists’ candidate Lewis Moore is a local who has called Merri-bek home since joining high school.
Mr Moore said he wanted the council to use its power to rein in rents, push back on profiteering supermarkets, build more public housing and expand public transport, including duplicating the upfield line.
“I’ve been appalled by the lack of action on the cost of living crisis. Rent, food prices and transport costs keep climbing, and not enough is being done about it,” he said.
He believes council should have a greater role in speaking-up about these issues.
Mr Moore has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Chris Miles
Chris Miles, a Glenroy resident for more than 12 years, is running as a Labor candidate for the upcoming Merri-bek council elections.
Mr Miles, a painter, said he was committed to improving safety on roads, boosting mental health services, taking care of sporting facilities and supporting small businesses to strengthen local economy.
“As a local tradie I hear from residents every single day about the rising cost of living and how much harder it is now to make ends meet than it ever used to be,” he said.
Mr Miles has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Baris Duzova
Baris Duzova is an independent candidate for Box Forest Ward at the upcoming Merri-bek City Council election.
Mr Duzova said he put his hand up for the upcoming election because he wanted to ensure Merri-bek gets the basics.
“Councils provide many essential services in our community … However, many councils continue to let down their residents. Merri-bek is one such council,” he said.
“That’s why this October, I’m putting my hand up as an independent candidate for the Box Forest Ward.
“We need to ensure that residents and ratepayers actually have a say in how their local community is governed.”
Mr Duzova has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Mohamad Elmustapha
Mohamad Elmustapha is running as an independent candidate for the upcoming elections to “build a better living for Merri-bek”.
Mr Elmustapha has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Brunswick West Ward
Ella Svensson
Ella Svensson is a proud queer resident of Merri-bek who is running as the Greens candidate for council.
A psychologist by trade, Ms Svensson grew up around mental illness, addiction, and financial hardship that drove her to become a passionate advocate for social justice, working to “ensure that no one is left behind”.
If elected, Ms Svensson will address the housing crisis, climate and biodiversity crises, invest in accessible and active transport and champion local democracy.
Ms Svensson has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Lambros Tapinos
Labor-endorsed sitting Merri-bek deputy mayor Lanbros Tapinos has announced he will be running for next term.
“I am pleased to announce, I will be renominating for council elections in October standing in the Brunswick West Ward,” he said.
Mr Tapinos has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Kathleen Browne
Kathleen Browne will be running as an independent candidate for Merri-bek’s Brunswick West ward.
Ms Browne said, if elected, she would support local businesses, address parking challenges and foster openness and transparency.
Ms Browne has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Anneke Demanuele
Victorian Socialists’ Anneke Demanuele will be running for Merri-bek local elections in the Brunswick West ward.
Ms Demanuele said she believed “money should be put towards meeting people’s needs, not providing tax breaks and subsidies to the wealthy”.
“If elected, I will fight for an increase in big developer contributions to the Development Contribution Plan, so we can build more public housing and parks,” she said.
“I will support penalties for investors and developers who leave houses empty. And I will fight for rent relief for tenants.”
Ms Demanuele has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Romeo Delorenzis
Romeo Delorenzis has put his hand up for the Brunswick West ward in the upcoming Merri-bek council elections.
Mr Delorenzis has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Bulleke-bek Ward
Dr Jay Iwasaki
Greens-endorsed Jay Iwasaki is a native bee ecologist and educator, who is running in the local elections for Merri-bek’s Bulleke-bek ward.
Dr Iwaasaki worked with native bees, researching conservation and sustainable food production before getting his PhD.
Dr Iwaasaki said he was committed to preserving biodiversity.
“I am committed to enhance community resilience in the face of climate change. I want to use my skills to develop policies that increase our quality of life, expand green spaces and increase affordable housing,” he said.
Mr Iwasaki has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Helen Breier
Helen Breier is running for Bulleke-bek Ward at the upcoming Merri-bek council elections.
She has been endorsed by the Labor Party.
Ms Breier said the top three issues facing the council were council services, responding to the demands of increasing urban density including need for open space, and road safety and parking.
Ms Breier is a member of the Australian Labor Party and has been a member of education union and financial services union for decades.
She is also a long time resident in the ward she is competing for in the upcoming elections.
Louisa Bassini
Louisa Bassini is a long-term Merri-bek resident who coaches the Brunswick Magic basketball team.
She has been endorsed by Victorian Socialists and is also a member of the Australian Services Union
Ms Bassini, who’s lives in the ward she is running in, said she had spent many years fighting to defend and extend public housing as a community lawyer.
She has been involved in community organising and activism for more than 20 years.
Ms Bassini led a social and community services worker walkout in opposition to the genocide in Gaza as a member of the Australian Services Union.
Ms Bassini said the top three issues impacting the council were the housing crisis, accessible public transport and the protection of green spaces in the face of overdevelopment.
“(We need) greater advocacy around the housing crisis, and stronger action against empty dwellings and unfit rental properties,” she said.
“There’s the need to expand the upfield train line and make Sydney Rd trams accessible. (And) protection of green spaces and greater infrastructure contributions in the face of overdevelopment.
Ms Bassini is a member of the Australian Services Union and lives in the ward she is running in.
Owen Miller
Owen Miller, of Brunswick, is running for the election to “ensure that Merri-bek can double down on its status as a liveable sanctuary in Melbourne”.
If elected, the Fusion Party endorsed software engineer will tackle issues like protecting local businesses and environment.
Mr Miller said the top three issues for him were cost of living, “heading towards climate catastrophe”, and “Australian governments keep losing relevance to foreign companies”.
“Our jobs are increasingly failing to provide us with a good life. People still want to keep living such a life though, hence the talk of a cost of living crisis,” he said.
“We’re still headed towards climate catastrophe, despite Labor pretending at the last federal election that more would be done.
“Australian governments keep losing relevance to foreign companies, and keep doubling down on total control as a means of staying in power over Australia.”
Mr Miller is also a member of the Pirate Party and is the founder of the Non-Human Party but for the upcoming election he is running under the Fusion (party) banner.
Mel Yuan
Mel Yuan has put her hand up for the Brunswick West ward in the upcoming Merri-bek council elections.
Ms Yuan, who lives in Brunswick West, is running as an independent candidate and has a background in higher education and has worked with the state government and Telstra.
Ms Yuan said the top three issues facing the council were needing better community services, the impact of infrastructure and needing better open space and pedestrian amenity.
“Merri-bek has experienced one of the highest rates of new development in Victoria and is thought to have the largest Planning Department in Victoria,” she said.
“With the state government making development less regulated across the state, what impact will that have on infrastructure already feeling the pressure?”
Ms Yuan said Merri-bek needed better open space, pedestrian amenity and non-car transport, with improved basic civic infrastructure.
“We have a host of strategies, but the reality is not meeting the rhetoric,” she said.
“Maternal health, childcare, aged care services and other community services are also still critical in among Brunswick’s hipster high-rise.”
Ms Yuan said she has no political affiliations or memberships of any political party.
She has been part of unions relevant to when she worked in higher education, with the state government and with Telstra.
Ms Yuan also lives in the Brunswick West ward.
Djirri-Djirri Ward
Abdi Sheikh
Abdi Sheikh will be running as an independent candidate in the upcoming council elections, fighting for the one vacancy in the Djirri-Djirri ward in Merri-bek.
Mr Sheikh said he wanted to drive change in the LGA by fostering a sense of belonging, promoting eco-friendly urban planning, upgrading local infrastructure and improving public safety measures.
Mr Sheikh has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Praveen Kumar
Praveen Kumar will be running for Djirri-Djirri ward as the Labor candidate.
Mr Kumar, who’s lived in Merri-bek for more than 20 years, said his priorities included enhancing parks, making facilities affordable, and ensuring cleaner, greener environments.
He said the three key issues impacting Merri-bek council were cost of living and financial responsibility, sustainable development and infrastructure and community engagement and transparency.
“Residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs, and it’s crucial that council spending reflects the needs of the community,” he said.
“We need to prioritise essential services and infrastructure over symbolic projects, ensuring that ratepayers’ money is being spent wisely to ease the burden on families and businesses.
“We need to focus on balancing development with the preservation of green spaces, more open space for families, improving public transport access, and addressing traffic congestion to ensure our suburbs remain liveable.
Mr Kumar said the community “deserved” a council that listened and was transparent in its decision-making.
“Many residents feel left out of the consultation process, particularly on key issues like the council’s budget and name change,” he said.
“It’s essential to improve community engagement and ensure that every voice is heard before major decisions are made.”
Mr Kumar said he was a proud member of the Australian Labor Party and is the president of the ALP Broadmeadows branch.
He is also the chair of the Alliance of South Asian Labor.
Mr Kumar did not say if he was a member of any unions.
Mr Kumar is a long term Merri-bek resident but did not specify if he lives in the ward he is running for.
Helen Davidson
Sitting councillor and former deputy mayor Helen Davidson is an independent candidate who will be running in the upcoming local election for another term.
Ms Davidson has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Wickrama Koddippuli Arachchige
Oak Park resident Wickrama Koddippuli Arachchige will be running for local elections.
Backed by Victorian Socialists, Mr Arachchige is a migrant workplace rights activist and dedicated to advocating for the rights of all workers.
Mr Arachchige said he was committed to ensuring that councillors work for the residents, “not for big property developers”.
“Integrity and transparency are paramount, and I will fight to eliminate council corruption,” he said.
“I am also a proud supporter of a free-Palestine. Through my active participation in campaigns against racism and for climate action, I have seen the powerful impact that collective effort can achieve.”
Mr Arachchige has not yet responded to questiosn from the Herald Sun.
Michelle Pitt
Michelle Pitt has put her hand up for the Djirri-Djirri ward in the upcoming Merri-bek council elections.
Ms Pitt has not yet responded to questiosn from the Herald Sun.
Smitha George
Smitha George has registered to run for the Djirri-Djirri ward in the upcoming Merri-bek council elections.
Ms George has not yet responded to questiosn from the Herald Sun.
Harmony Park Ward
Angelica Panopoulos
Greens candidate Angelica Panopoulos is a sitting councillor and former mayor of Merri-bek council is running for another term.
A Greek-Australian and Merri-bek local, Ms Panopoulos said she was passionate about getting real action on housing, climate and active transport.
“I’ve grown up in the Merri-bek community and have spent the past four years proudly representing this area on council,” she said.
“I have a proven track record of delivering for the community, as both a councillor and mayor; putting the Central Coburg revitalisation on the table, doubling our tree planting budget and championing active transport projects.”
Ms Panopoulos said the three key issues affecting the council were the availability of good quality affordable housing, cost of living hitting residents hard and revitalising Central Coburg.
“Central Coburg revitalisation would make a huge difference in tackling these issues. This includes pushing for a new library, social housing and green & open space on 3.5 hectares of Council owned land,” she said.
Ms Panopoulos said she was a member of Greens but did not specify if she was a member of any unions.
Ms Panopoulos said she was a lifelong Merri-bek local but did not clarify if she was running for the ward she lived in.
Stephen Schembri
Stephen Schembri will be running for Harmony Park ward in the upcoming local elections.
Mr Schembri has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Helen Politis
Helen Politis is a Labor-endorsed candidate for Harmony Park ward.
She said she believed local council should be led by those who truly care about the community.
If elected, she would commit to Revitalise Central Coburg, clean streets, support early childhood education, create green spaces and enhance street safety.
“Together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant Coburg,” she said.
Ms Politis said the key issues impacting the council were revitalising Central Coburg,
expanding three-year-old kinder as well as protection from privatisation for aged care services, and improved road safety.
Ms Politis said she was an endorsed member of the ALP and had signed and supported the ASU’s pledge to support local government workers.
She is “a lifelong local, daughter of Greek immigrants, mother, carer, and local small business owner”.
Ms Politis lives in a ward that borders Harmony Park and said she had strong local connections and was a life member of the Coburg Athletics Club.
“I will use my community and industry experience to enhance services, improve roads, and support a thriving local economy,” she said.
Jason Clarke
Jason Clarke is an independent candidate, running for Harmony Park ward, where he has lived for 19 years.
Mr Clarke said he was committed to focusing on the needs of the community and not “party politics”.
He said the top three issues facing the Merri-bek council were revitalising the Coburg central business and the entertainment district, developing a consultative, well researched and innovative strategic plan for Coburg and Sydney Rd retail precinct, and securing more funding for improved sporting and community facilities.
Mr Clarke said he had no political party affiliations or memberships.
“I am free of political bias and I will only focus on council matters that council is responsible for,” he said.
Mr Clarke has lived in Harmony Park for more than 19 years.
Jordan Armaou-Massoud
Jordan Armaou-Massoud is the Socialist Alliance candidate for Harmony Park Ward (central and western Coburg) for the upcoming Merri-bek council elections.
Mr Armaou-Massoud is a Lebanese-Palestinian university student who studies anthropology. He previously worked in interdisciplinary health education.
He said he believed the housing crisis was the worst since the 1930s and therefore had been involved in campaigns to stop the sell-off and demolition of public housing.
Mr Armaou-Massoud was also involved in various campaigns to “end the Australian Government’s complicity in the genocide in Gaza”.
“I am passionate about social and ecological justice and believe councils should play a role in supporting human rights and community-led campaigns,” he said.
Mr Armaou-Massoud has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Ruby Healer
Ruby Healer has registered to run for the Harmony Park ward in the upcoming Merri-bek elections.
Ms Healer has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Pascoe Vale South Ward
Corey Perkins
Corey Perkins is a Labor-endorsed candidate for Pascoe Vale South ward.
Mr Perkins has put his hand up in the election race to focus on the basics – roads, rates, rubbish and moving towards an environmentally sustainable future.
Mr Perkins has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Oscar Yildiz
Oscar Yildiz is a sitting councillor and former mayor of Merri-bek council, running for another term as an independent candidate.
Mr Yildiz, who has been serving on the council for more than 16 years, said he still had the “same fire in the belly to advocate for the local issues and represent the municipality with passion and integrity”.
Mr Yildiz said the top three issues affecting the council were councillors not focusing on local issues, poor response times on complaints, and sporting fields requiring attention.
Mr Yildiz said he was not affiliated with any political parties but was a member of the ALP before resigning in August 2017.
Mr Yildiz said he was not part of any unions and lived in the Pascoe Vale ward.
Emma Dook
Emma Dook is a Victorian Socialists candidate for Pascoe Vale South ward.
Ms Dook is a Merri-bek local and housing support worker in a community health organisation.
She said in her work she had seen first-hand the impact of the housing crisis on the most vulnerable.
“I’m running as a Victorian Socialists candidate because I want to fight for housing for all, and against a system that enriches developers and the wealthy few at the expense of the rest of us,” she said.
Ms Dook said the top three key issues affecting her council were addressing the housing crisis, putting people ahead of profit and taking a stand for global justice.
“Housing is a fundamental right, and shouldn’t be a profitmaking opportunity for the wealthiest few,” she said.
“We need more public housing, rent controls, and a housing system that puts ordinary people ahead of big investors and real estate developers.”
She also said privatisation of key council services such as aged care and childcare had led to declining services, high prices, and the undermining of workers’ wages.
She also said councils should play a role in speaking out against injustice “whether that’s opposing Israel’s genocidal assault in Gaza, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights, or LGBTIQA+ rights”.
Ms Dook is a member and delegate in the Australian Services Union.
She does not live in the ward she is running for but has called Merri-bek her home for six years.
Pentridge Ward
Kenna Morrison
Kenna Morrison is a Greens-sponsored candidate for Merri-bek’s Pentridge ward.
Ms Morrison has worked as a social worker, association manager, successful IT business owner before moving into social work in child protection, school social work, and finally in adult mental health.
If elected, Ms Morrison promises her priorities would include: affordable housing, frequent and reliable public transport, among others.
Ms Morrison has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Nat Abboud
Nat Abboud is a former Greens member who is now running as an independent candidate for Merri-bek’s Pentridge ward.
She is the co-owner of Rumi restaurant and former sitting councillor and mayor of Merri-bek council.
Ms Abboud said the top three issues affecting the council were its ability to listen to residents and each other, and responding to “what we hear”
“No matter what the issues are our council needs to relearn how to collaborate and respect each others differences again”.
Ms Abboud said she was not affiliated with any political parties but was a member of the Greens two years ago.
Ms Abboud lives in the Pentridge ward, which she is competing for in the upcoming elections.
Suzan Saka
Suzan Saka is a Labor-endorsed candidate for Merri-bek’s Pentridge ward.
Ms Saka migrated from Turkey with her family in 2007 and has been living in Merri-bek since.
“I’m proud to call myself a local and I’m running for council because I’m ready to help our vibrant community thrive and grow sustainably well into the future,” she said.
Ms Saka has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Daniel De Lorenzis
Daniel De Lorenzis is running as an independent for local council in Merri-bek’s Pentridge ward.
Mr De Lorenzis said the three top issues impacting the council were over expenditure of ratepayers funds, no safety in our parks and gardens and shopping precinct not kept clean and orderly.
Mr Lorenzis said he didn’t live in ward hewas running for but lived in the Merri-bek municipality.
He said he was not affiliated with any political party.
Mr Lorenzis said he was in an union for more than 40 years for his work but did not specify which union.
Jacob Andrewartha
Jacob Andrewartha is a Socialist Alliance-endorsed candidate for the Pentridge Ward (east Coburg) in the upcoming Merri-bek council election.
Mr Andrewartha works as a childcare worker.
He is involved in the Pro-Palestine movement and Climate Justice and has been part of organising protests for Palestine in the local area.
If elected, he promises to campaign for opposing privatisation of council services, extending the hours of the outdoor pools, putting an end to the genocide in Gaza and improved public transport.
Mr Andrewartha has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Jasmine Duff
Coburg resident Jasmine Duff is the Victorian Socialists candidate in Pentridge ward.
Ms Duff is the national convener of Students for Palestine and also works for the SES, taking calls about floods and storms.
She believes “in a world where people come before profit”.
“Councils have a responsibility to tackle urgent issues like the housing shortage and cost of living crisis. But we also need representatives who can stand up to the racist scapegoating of politicians and the media,” she said.
“If I’m elected in October, I’ll fight for working-class people, for Palestine, and for a fairer Merri-Bek.”
Ms Duff has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Anthony Helou
Anthony Helou has registered to run for the Pentridge ward in the upcoming Merri-bek council elections.
Mr Helou has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Randazzo Ward
Liz Irvin
Liz Irvin is the Greens candidate for Merri-bek’s Randazzo ward.
A transport planner by trade, Ms Irwin said she regularly engaged with the community to hear what people wanted for their streets.
“We know people want more liveable streets and places, and we know what that can look like,” she said.
“The challenging part is how we get there – and I would love to use my experience to help.”
Ms Irvin has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Thomas Nash
Thomas Nash is the Labor-endorsed candidate for Merri-bek’s Randazzo ward in the upcoming elections.
As a lifelong Merri-bek resident, Mr Nash said his commitment to the community was
“strong”.
“From my days at Sydney Road Community School to my work with local non-profits, I’ve always been dedicated to our are,” he said.
Mr Nash has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Voula Allimonos
Voula Allimonos is an independent candidate for Randazzo ward in Merri-bek.
Having lived, worked and raise a family in the LGA, Ms Allimonos said if elected she would focus on local issues.
Ms Allimonos has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Kosta Rologas
Brunswick resident Kosta Rologas is the Victorian Socialists-endorsed candidate, running for Randazzo ward.
Mr Rologas is a supermarket worker running for elections because he lives in the LGA and it needs a “a better, fairer society”.
“I’ve been a socialist for almost two decades. In that time, I’ve helped organise community campaigns against racism, for refugee rights and for action on the climate crisis,” he said.
“I’m also a long-time member of the Palestine solidarity movement.”
Mr Rologas has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Felix Dance
Brunswick resident Felix Dance, who has a background in civil engineering, is the Socialist Alliance Party candidate to run for the Randazzo ward in the upcoming Merri-bek council elections.
Mr Dance said the three key issues impacting his council were housing and public housing being available to all, having accessible tram stops along Sydney Rd along with better bike lanes, and taking council pools off gas and tackling climate change.
“I believe that Council can be a true voice of the people to fight for safe and sustainable transport and a strong local neighbourhood, as well as for justice everywhere,” he said.
“I want to be a part of that.”
Mr Dance has been a member with the Socialist Alliance for 23 years, when he first joined as a high-schooler.
Mr Dance is also a member of his union, Professionals Australia (formally APESMA), as a civil engineer.
He said he lived in the neighbouring suburb of the ward he was running in.
Warrk-Warrk Ward
Adam Pulford
Sitting mayor and councillor Adam Pulford has announced he will be running for another term in the upcoming elections.
Mr Pulford is a proud queer man, who has been serving on the council for four years.
Greens-endorsed, Mr Pulford promises if elected he will be progressing Treaty with local traditional owners, planting more trees, protecting our beautiful green spaces and building more parks.
Mr Pulford has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Jenne Perlstein
Brunswick resident Jenne Perlstein is the Labor-endorsed candidate for Warrk-Warrk Ward in the upcoming elections.
Ms Perlstein is a social worker, educator, the deputy chair of Merri-bek Interfaith Network, and a member of Merri-bek Human Rights Advisory Group.
Ms Perlstein has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Jo-Ann Hope
Brunswick resident Jo-Ann Hope is the Victorian Socialists-endorsed candidate for the upcoming elections.
Ms Hope is a health care worker, unionist, single parent, anti-racist and “fighter for Palestine”.
“If elected, I will campaign for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the siege on Gaza, denounce Labor’s complicity in genocide and campaign that council boycott businesses that profit from Israel’s occupation,” she said.
Ms Hope has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Westbreen Ward
Chloe Holmes
Chloe Holmes is the Greens-endorsed candidate for Westbreen Ward in the upcoming council elections.
Ms Holmes is a queer woman, young renter with a background in grassroots activism and IT.
“I’m a dedicated resident of Merri-Bek and have experienced the gentrification and decline of small businesses first hand,” she said.
Ms Holmes has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Katerine Theodosis
Pascoe Vale local Katerine Theodosis is the Labor candidate for Westbreen Ward in Merri-bek council for the October election.
Ms Theodosis said she put her hand up for local elections because she loved the LGA’s diverse and welcoming community and wanted to “see it thrive”.
Ms Theodosis has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Helen Pavlidis
Sitting councillor Helen Pavlidis will be running for next term.
She is an independent candidate for Westbreen ward.
Ms Pavlidis has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Henry Parker
Henry Parker is the Victorian Socialists candidate for Merri-bek’s Westbreen ward.
After growing up on the west coast in Perth, Mr Parker moved to Merri-bek and has worked in hospitality.
“I’ve participated in and helped organise vibrant grassroots campaigns for refugee rights, accessible public transport, and advocacy for Palestine,” he said.
“If I’m elected, I’ll use that experience to fight for you.”
Mr Parker has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Emma Burrows
Emma Burrows is an independent candidate for the Westbreen Ward for Merri-bek’s upcoming elections.
Ms Burrows said she had called Merri-bek home for more than 20 years, and was “passionate about creating a safe and clean community for all”.
Ms Burrows has not yet responded to questions from the Herald Sun.
Renee Egglestone
Renee Egglestone will be running as an independent for the Westbreen ward in the upcoming Merri-bek council elections.
Ms Egglestone said the three key issues impacting the council were the cost of living, distractions relating to state and international political issues that didn’t benefit the local community, and road safety.
Ms Egglestone said she had lived in the Westbreen ward for more than 20 years.
She also said she has never been affiliated with any political party and was not a member of any unions.
Didn’t officially nominate with the Victorian Electoral Commission
Hash Tayeh
Palestinian activist and burger boss Hash Tayeh had declared he will run for Merri-bek council but did not register with the VEC.
T. Taylor
T. Taylor announced he would be running for the Harmony Park ward and was endorsed by Victorian Socialists but did not register with VEC.
Lou Tenace
Lou Tenace announced on his social media he would run as an independent candidate for Box Forest Ward in the upcoming Merri-bek council elections but did not register with VEC.
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