Former premier Jeff Kennett backs Sally Capp for lord mayor

FORMER premier Jeff Kennett has urged Melbourne voters to pick someone “who can do the job”, and says one candidate stands out above the rest.

FORMER Liberal premier Jeff Kennett has backed Sally Capp for lord mayor, but said that whoever won would have to fill the “massive administrative shoes” of Robert Doyle.

Mr Kennett said that the Property Council executive had wide experience including good governance skills, creativity and the capacity to call for help from a big network of contacts.

“Sally stands out head and shoulders above everyone else,” he said.

LORD MAYOR FAVOURITE SALLY CAPP FACES UNITED FRONT BY RIVALS

Former premier Jeff Kennett, lord mayoral candidate Sally Capp and former federal minister Ros Kelly. Picture: Dean Schmideg

Mr Kennett said Ms Capp faced a big challenge because most of the 14 candidates in the by-election were directing preferences against her.

“This indicates that the others are all fearful of her intelligence and her capacity,” he said.

Among the lord mayoral hopefuls are Greens councillor Rohan Leppert, former councillor Ken Ong, pollster Gary Morgan, former Manningham mayor Jennifer Yang and academic Sally Warhaft.

KENNETT BACKS HARASSMENT FINDINGS AGAINST ROBERT DOYLE

Gary Morgan is running for lord mayor again.

Mr Kennett said it would be a tragedy for Melbourne and Victoria if city council voters played Russian roulette along purely political lines.

“Because the whole city will suffer if we put in someone there just because of their political leanings as opposed to making sure we have someone who can do the job we can expect of our lord mayor,” he said.

Ms Capp was briefly a Liberal Party member some years ago, but is running as an independent.

Mr Ong is a Liberal running as an independent, while Ms Yang is an ALP member but also running as an independent.

Mr Leppert is the only candidate officially endorsed by a political party.

GARY MORGAN PLEDGES JUNKETS CRACKDOWN IN LORD MAYOR BID

Former lord mayor Robert Doyle. Picture: AAP

The by-election was caused by the resignation of Mr Doyle in February amid sexual harassment allegations, which he has denied.

Mr Kennett said that apart from the “obvious”, Mr Doyle was a very good mayor in terms of administrative skill.

He said that his successor would have “massive administrative shoes” to fill.

Ms Capp also received the endorsement of former Labor federal minister Ros Kelly, who is her aunt through marriage.

Meanwhile, Gary Morgan has pulled out of a candidates’ event to be held by the Chinatown Precinct Association tonight after accusing organisers of not giving him “a fair go” in the past.

[e-mail]

@JMasanauskas