Independent Phil Cleary hopes for legal reprieve to contest Melbourne Lord Mayor poll

FRONTRUNNERS in the lord mayoral race have done well in securing favourable positions on the ballot paper.

FRONTRUNNERS in the lord mayoral race have done well in securing favourable positions on the ballot paper.

Property Council executive Sally Capp was allocated the number two spot while Greens hopeful Rohan Leppert got number four in the computer draw.

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However, former city councillor Ken Ong found himself at number 13 in a field of 14, leading him to joke that he will tell voters to fill out their preferences from the bottom.

Securing a position at or near the top of the ballot is considered an advantage because some voters simply choose whichever candidates are at the top.

Ms Capp said she was very happy with her number two position.

Phil Cleary addressing the crowd at a Save the Queen Victoria Market rally. Picture: Nicole Garmston

“The higher you can be on the voting paper the better outcome,” she said.

Ms Capp said it was a big field, requiring a big effort from voters to work through all the ballot boxes.

She said her team was yet to decide how her preferences will be allocated.

Asked if she was a favourite, Ms Capp said the election would be very tough.

“I am going to, together with supporters, be working really hard until voting closes at 6pm on May 11th,” she said.

The top spot on the ballot went to Qun Xie, who only nominated shortly before today’s midday deadline.

Former federal MP Phil Cleary failed in his bid to be eligible to nominate, while City of Wyndham councillor Intaj Khan was also unable to run.

Earlier Mayoral aspirant Phil Cleary was hoping a last-minute legal bid could clear his way to join a Melbourne election field.

Melbourne Lord Mayor candidate Ken Ong. Picture: Hamish Blair

Property Council chief Sally Capp. Picture: Sarah Matray

The independent had been ruled ineligible even though he registered his company, Phil Cleary Enterprises, at an address in Spring St in the city, on January 19.

Candidates for lord mayor must be a Melbourne resident or a property owner or company director based in the city.

Mr Cleary, who ran for mayor in 2016 on a “Save the Queen Victoria Market” platform, sought legal advice in the hope of a reprieve before nominations at the Victorian Electoral Commission closed at noon today.

A total of 11 candidates have formally put their names forward for the postal ballot, which ends on May 11.

Former Property Council chief Sally Capp, Greens councillor Rohan Leppert, former Manningham mayor Jennifer Yang, broadcaster Sally Warhaft, pollster Gary Morgan and ex-councillor Ken Ong are among high-profile nominees.

Other candidates are psychologist Michael Burge, artist Katie Sfetkidis, Animal Justice Party member Bruce Poon, Luke Downing, and Nathalie O’Sughrue.

Mr Downing, a North Melbourne resident and a relationships manager at a property services company, said he wanted to revive the city’s homelessness strategy, which was scrapped in 2016.

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Sally Warhaft, academic, editor, broadcaster and Wheeler Centre host. Picture: Ian Currie

Greens councillor Rohan Leppert. Picture: Jay Town

He said he also wanted to have a zero tolerance approach to any Town Hall corruption.

Mr Downing is a Labor Party member but said he was neither endorsed nor funded by the party.

Mr Burge, a psychologist, said he was born and bred in Melbourne and was passionate about the city. He said his skills as a social scientist meant he could bring people together.

Mr Burge is a Liberal Party member, but said he was running as an independent.

Ms Sfetkidis, a feminist and an artist and lighting designer, said she wanted to ensure artists had a voice in Melbourne.

Michael Burge, psychologist, running for Melbourne Lord Mayor. Pic: Supplied.

Pollster and businessman Gary Morgan. Picture: Ian Currie

Artist Katie Sfetkidis, Lord Mayor candidate. Pic: Supplied

Nathalie Nicole O'Sughrue, Melbourne Lord Mayor candidate. Pic: Supplied

“Arts and culture are such a big part of our city,’’ she said.

Ms Sfetkidis won the 2017 National Gallery of Victoria Women’s Association Award at the Victorian College of the Arts.

The by-election is being held to replace three-time Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, who quit in February amid a sexual harassment scandal.

Melbourne City Council last month made four “adverse” and “very serious’’ findings against Mr Doyle, who has denied all of the allegations made against him.

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