The Greens name Geelong council candidates ahead of October election

Five months out from voters casting their ballot for Geelong’s next group of 11 councillors, the campaign for spots at City Hall is ramping up as the Greens unveil three candidates and their policy priorities.

The Greens have announced candidates for the 2024 Geelong council election: Maddie Slater (Corio ward), Emilie Flynn (Kardinia) and Joey Nicita (Hamlyn Heights). Picture: Supplied.

The Greens have unveiled three Geelong council candidates ahead of local government elections later this year, with the trio committed to shaking things up at City Hall.

Emilie Flynn will stand in the Kardinia ward, where she will come up against former mayor Stretch Kontelj and potentially current councillor Peter Murrihy, who has not yet declared his hand.

Former Hornsby Shire councillor Joey Nicita will run in Hamlyn Heights, while Maddie Slater will come up against Socialist Alliance councillor Sarah Hathway and likely Anthony Aitken in Corio.

They are hoping to emulate the Greens’ Sarah Mansfield, who was the first Brownbill ward candidate elected in 2020 after receiving 23.1 per cent of first preference votes.

Ms Mansfield later resigned from council after being elected to Victoria’s Legislative Council at the 2022 state election.

Ms Flynn, who works at Geelong Sustainability and is heavily in involved with the Real Deal Alliance, said council’s focus should be far wider than roads, rates and rubbish.

“People look to their local councils for community leadership,” she said.

Former Geelong councillor, now Victorian MLC Sarah Mansfield. Picture: Alison Wynd.

“Being a Geelong resident involves more than just paying rates, using roads, and having your rubbish collected, so there’s a need for the work of council to reflect that.”

Asked for her verdict on the current council, Ms Flynn said there was room for improvement in the way they worked with one another.

“The Greens push for transparent, well-informed, and collaborative decision-making, and provide for clear reporting of council activities,” she said.

Ms Slater is a queer, trans woman committed to progressive change.

She wants to champion visibility for under-represented voices, particularly in Corio – a community she said has for too long been neglected by major parties.

“Our community needs better public transport, safe protected bike infrastructure and greater support for LGBTQIA+ people across our city and in regional areas,” she said.

“I vow to amplify community voices, and forge a more inclusive future for all.”

Mr Nicita said as well as working for a “greener environment”, improving affordable housing outcomes was a key priority.

“We have an opportunity to make Hamlyn Heights a greener, more inclusive place, bring integrity back to the council and make sure that our young people and future generations are able to live, grow and thrive here,” he said.

Ms Flynn said further Greens candidates could be announced.

“If other members put their hands up to run over the next few months, we could be looking at a few more candidates,” she said.

The party had Kate Gazzard elected to the Surf Coast Shire council in 2020.

Nominations for this year’s election formally open September 19 and close five days later.

Ballots will be sent in the mail from October 8 and voters have until October 25 to return them.

Rather than 11 Geelong councillors representing four wards, as is currently the case, a single-member structure will see 11 wards represented by just one councillor.

Originally published as The Greens name Geelong council candidates ahead of October election