Former Lord Mayor John So backs multiple candidates in Town Hall race

FORMER Lord Mayor John So has backed two candidates but wants just one result in the race for Town Hall’s top job: A Chinese-Australian winner.

FORMER Lord Mayor John So is taking an each way bet on which Chinese-Australian should take his old job.

A day after it emerged Mr So had endorsed Jennifer Yang the Herald Sun can reveal he is also backing millionaire councillor Ken Ong for the role.

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“I believe with his experience, leadership and understanding of the City of Melbourne, he is well qualified to be considered as the next Lord Mayor,” Mr So says of Mr Ong.

“I hope that you will see fit to vote for him.”

Melbourne Lord Mayor candidate Ken Ong. Picture: Hamish Blair

Mr Ong arrived in Australia as an international student and he served on the council for several years, but was defeated in the lord mayoral bid in 2016.

Mr Ong, who has also been endorsed by former councillor Stephen Mayne as “a good operator” who “is in with a shot” of becoming Lord Mayor, on Sunday said he appreciated Mr So’s support and had published his testimonial on his campaign website along with many others.

“John did tell me he supported both of us because we’re both Chinese. He’s known Jennifer for about 10 years and he’s known me for about 25 years,” he said.

Former lord mayor John So has endorsed mayoral hopeful Jennifer Yang. Picture: SUPPLIED

In a statement endorsing Ms Yang, Mr So said he had known the ALP member and former Manningham Council mayor for more than a decade and had been impressed “with her passion in serving and working with the communities across Melbourne”.

When asked if Ms Yang knew Mr So had also endorsed Mr Ong and what she thought of Mr So encouraging people to vote for Ken Ong, spokesman Stephen Michelson yesterday said: “Nothing can diminish John So’s endorsement of Jennifer, and we remain grateful for his support and the support of the City’s vibrant multicultural community.”

Mr So declined to comment on his two way support.