Arron Wood and Nick Reece’s teams in war of words

A fight over preferences in the race to be lord mayor has prompted claims of “grubby” and “unhinged” attacks between rival candidates.

The team behind Melbourne lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood has launched a stinging attack on incumbent Nick Reece’s campaign, marking a dramatic escalation in the war for the city’s top job.

Mr Wood, a former deputy lord mayor, on Wednesday denied that his ticket was aligned with the Greens, after preferences were submitted on Monday.

“Attacks relating to preferences are grubby and to be expected from the faceless men behind Dan Andrews who locked down Melbourne longer than any city in the world and are now running Nick Reece’s campaign,” a Team Wood spokesperson said.

“Team Wood is proud to have independent leadership that is focused on getting back to basics and giving our city a fresh start.”

Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood with his running mate Erin Deering. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

A Team Reece spokesperson hit back on Wednesday night, saying: “This is a bizarre and unhinged attack. We will not be stepping back from the fact that Arron Wood is in an alliance with the Greens. He has a former Greens councillor on his ticket and is preferencing the Greens accordingly.”

The Victorian Electoral Commission on Wednesday released the preferences of all 11 lord mayoral tickets.

The website shows that Team Wood has placed the Greens at No.7 on its ballot paper, while Team Reece has the Greens at No.6.

Mr Reece, the current Lord Mayor who took over on July 1 when Sally Capp stood down after six years in the top job, has listed businessman Gary Morgan as his first preference, followed by Carlton great Anthony Koutoufides, then Labor, the Liberals and the Greens.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece took over from Sally Capp in July. Picture: David Caird

Mr Reece’s campaign is being managed by FMRS Advisory, spearheaded by former premier Daniel Andrews’ staff Lissie Ratcliff, Jessie McCrone, Ben Foster and Adam Sims.

Mr Wood’s ballot has listed residents’ ticket Voices for Melbourne first, followed by Labor, independent Jamal Hakim, the Liberals, the Animal Justice Party and then the Greens.

The Greens, who have midwife Roxane Ingleton as their lord mayoral candidate, have preferenced Mr Hakim first, followed by the Animal Justice Party, Voices for Melbourne, Labor, Mr Wood and then Mr Reece.

Mr Wood is seen to have strong environmental credentials and most recently has been a manager at the Clean Energy Council.

He has also recruited the experienced Cathy Oke to run on his councillor ticket. Ms Oke, a fellow Kensington resident, served as a Greens councillor from 2008 to 2020.

Labor turned its back on Mr Reece, a long-time party member, on Monday, instead placing Mr Wood higher on its preferences.

Mr Reece was the party’s state secretary, as well as an adviser to former prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard and ex-premiers Steve Bracks and John Brumby.

Labor’s lord mayoral candidate Phil Reed on Monday said Mr Reece’s campaign policy and personnel were not consistent with the values of the party.

The Victorian Electoral Commission will mail ballot packs to City of Melbourne residents and businesses from Monday, October 7.

Originally published as Arron Wood and Nick Reece’s teams in war of words