By John Mangan
IF BROADMEADOWS were a country, it would be a one-party state. Blue-ribbon ALP turf since 1962, there was no surprise in yesterday's byelection as Labor candidate Frank McGuire held the working class, ethnically diverse outer suburban seat despite a drop of 8.5 per cent in the party's primary vote.
''This is an incredible honour and privilege to represent the area where I grew up that meant so much to my family,'' said Mr McGuire as he claimed victory with more than 53 per cent of the vote in the seat left vacant by the resignation of former premier John Brumby.
State ALP leader Daniel Andrews put on a brave face, pointing out that the loss of votes was not as great as the loss the Liberal Party suffered when Jeff Kennett quit his seat in 1999 and Burwood fell to Labor.
Unlike Burwood in 1999, however, the Liberals had opted not to field a candidate in Broadmeadows.
Independent candidate Celal Sahin polled surprising well, picking up about 20 per cent of the vote, easily outperforming the Greens, DLP and the Sex Party.
The Broadmeadows-bred Mr McGuire was controversially ''parachuted'' into the party's safest seat by ALP head office ahead of Hume councillor Burhan Yigit, who had the support of four big unions. A legal battle ensued, culminating in a failed bid to have the Supreme Court block Mr McGuire's endorsement.
The former ABC journalist, Walkley Award winner and brother of media personality Eddie McGuire, he has lived in Brighton in recent years but said he would be spending the night at his parents' Housing Commission home.