‘Dirty politics’: Brighton candidate Steve Mav responds after being videoed at woman’s letterbox

A Tassie mayoral candidate has responded after he was videoed inspecting items in a resident’s letterbox while doorknocking a neighbourhood to drum up electoral support. WATCH THE VIDEO >>

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Steve Mav has denied any wrongdoing after the Brighton mayoral candidate was videoed inspecting items from a resident’s letterbox while doorknocking a neighbourhood to drum up electoral support.

Janara Bell was at home in Old Beach yesterday when a man she recognised as Mr Mav appeared outside her home.

CCTV shows Steve Mav at a letterbox in Old Beach.

Ms Bell said Mr Mav appeared to remove material from the letter box before dropping off some of his own. She videoed the incident. Mav denies any wrongdoing.

“It’s just dirty politics,” he told the Mercury.

“I have already said to people I have no intention of responding to it, I’m focusing on a positive campaign and people are trying to throw mud at me.”

Ms Bell subsequently posted the video to Facebook.

She was enjoying a morning of rest at her home, as she waits for the birth of her next child, when she spotted Mr Mav at her letterbox yesterday morning.

Steve Mav’s fridge magnet. Picture: Janara Bell.

Steve Mav. Picture: PATRICK GEE

“Once I posted a video of it to Facebook, he came back around at 3pm,” she said.

“I felt a bit harassed. As he was walking back down my driveway he asked if I wanted a fridge magnet of his.”

Mr Mav said he believed he did nothing improper.

“The lady in question is heavily pregnant and I am not going to get into a she said, he said scenario and I don’t want to create any unnecessary pressures for her,” Mr Mav said.

“I am the only candidate that is door knocking, waving and out there meeting people. I refuse to play gutter politics.”

The Tasmanian Electoral Commission said there is currently no jurisdiction around the matter.