The Source: Mayoral candidates prefer to stay silent on preferences

For several weeks, this year’s candidates for Melbourne Lord Mayor have been eager to say they are putting voters first but on one all-important issue they’re not willing to tell us their preference.

Anthony Koutoufides and other mayoral candidates are staying coy about where their preferences will be going. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Putting the squeeze on Victoria’s movers, shakers and headline makers

They can certainly talk the talk.

But when it comes to walking the walk, each of our leading contenders for Melbourne Lord Mayor appear to be at least temporarily incapacitated.

For several weeks, this year’s candidates have been very eager to tell the voters how they will put them first, ahead of next month’s election.

But everyone in the know agrees this race will very much be decided on preference deals.

And as we approach the pointy end of the manoeuvring, none of the leading contenders – Arron Wood, Nick Reece, Anthony Koutoufides or even the Greens’ Roxane Ingleton – were willing to fess up on this all-important issue on Thursday.

Even wildcard candidate Anthony van der Craats, who drew the coveted No 1 spot on the ballot, was coy about where his preferences would be going. Any chance Mr van der Craats might be shouted a drink or two this weekend?

So much for open and transparent politics.

At least we will get clarity on Monday – the deadline for the candidates’ preferences to be lodged.

Bold bid to overhaul city council

Local council elections always throw up their share of, well, colourful characters and this year will be no exception.

Enter Jake Land, an 88-year-old Melbourne resident who wants to “take a broom to” Town Hall.

Mr Land says he has worked as a contract undercover agent, run a Kings Cross porn shop and has struggled with “the Protestant cult’’ into which he was born.

Melbourne Lord Mayor candidate Jake Land wants to take a broom to Town Hall.

But now he is running for alderman*, promising to put the Greenline project, or “Sally’s folly” as he calls it, on hold until funding can be found.

The author also wants to change the preamble that acknowledges traditional peoples to include “our First Fleet ancestors”.

And he is calling for increased police patrols, a memorial wall for deceased pets in Fitzroy Gardens, and workers be encouraged back to the city with free biscuits on Monday or a free drink on Friday after work. Take that, Kouta.

And, this is The Source’s favourite, he wants the city’s parks to be leash-free areas for nonviolent dogs.

* Aldermen were replaced with councillors in 1938 but we get Jake’s drift.

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Originally published as The Source: Mayoral candidates prefer to stay silent on preferences