Nightclub king Nick Russian confirms he’s running for Melbourne Lord Mayor
After more than a week of deliberating with his family, Melbourne nightclub king Nick Russian has confirmed he’s running for Lord Mayor, claiming he could no longer sit back and watch his beloved city become a ghost town.
Victoria
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Saving Lygon St restaurants, such as the famed Toto’s Pizza, from going bankrupt is Nick Russian’s promise if elected Lord Mayor.
Bringing Melbourne back to life through small business recovery is one of the business entrepreneur’s flagship policies after announcing a tilt for the top job at the Town Hall.
“Look at Lygon St,” Mr Russian said on Friday.
“It has been the heartbeat of Melbourne for all these years, yet they miss out on support like the CBD small business grant, it’s really disappointing.”
“I would be looking to extend the boundaries of that grant if elected.”
He also confirmed the establishment of a taskforce of hospitality, entertainment and cultural leaders to be chaired by Mitch Catlin to bring the world’s most liveable city back to life.
Mr Russian said his running mate as deputy would be Order of Australia recipient and psychologist Michael Burge, who has previously run for council.
The colourful businessman and bar owner says a spotlight on mental health will be a key focus as Melbourne comes out of Covid-19 restrictions.
Also on Team Russian will be Liberal Party member and sitting councillor Philip Le Liu.
After more than a week of deliberating with his young family, Mr Russian, 41, says he could no longer sit back and watch his beloved city become a ghost town.
“Our hospitality business and events have been completely devastated. I thought I can either sit back and have a whinge, or try and do something about it,” Mr Russian said.
“It was an honour to be asked to run and I feel I can make a real difference.”
Mr Russian, who will run against Lord Mayor Sally Capp and Deputy Mayor Arron Wood, is the only commercial business owner running for mayor.
Mr Russian and his brother Daniel own Bar Bambi, the former Cherry Bar venue on AC/DC Lane, but he says the business has been unable to open because of harsh lockdown restrictions.
“I know the pain everyone else is going through first-hand because I’m experiencing it myself along with my family,” he said.
Small businesses needed real and tangible support, not tokenism.
“It’s no secret people in the CBD will need all the help they can get to bring the patrons back in.
“Patrons equals revenue and that’s what our city needs.”
Glamorous wife Rozalia Russian, a fashion influencer and clothes designer with more that 250,000 followers, says the push for the Town Hall is all about saving Melbourne.
“It’s exciting,” Mrs Russian, 32, said from their inner city home with kids Kingston, 3 and Willow, 6.
“But you can’t also help feel a sense of sadness at what is happening to our city at the moment.
“People are really on their knees and need to turn to someone who can get the city back to where it was, or some way towards a normal life.
“It’s about helping Melburnians in their time of need,” said Rozalia Russian.
“This is about being a business owner. Nick is the only business owner running as a candidate. If anyone knows small business and hospitality, it’s Nick.
“This isn’t about public image, but about having someone in Town Hall that knows small business, who hears small business and who can help small business.”
Nominations for Lord Mayor open on Thursday September 17.
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