We’ve decided to have a closer look at the question of who will be Mayor following some recent comments. We’ve already stated that we believe it would be another case of “indecent haste” if the Mayor were to be elected tomorrow night. Two days following the announcement of the successful candidates is certainly not enough time for these individuals to make rational and long term decisions on the future. When a Mayor can wield so much power (ie gagging councillors, allowing residents to address council and most importantly, determining what can be over-ruled with no option for dissent) then who assumes the title of Mayor is crucial.
We speculate that there are possibly three candidates – Hyams, Pilling, and Lipshutz, with the latter as perhaps Deputy Mayor. We’ve ruled Esakoff out given that she’s been in the role 3 times and making it 4 times would be over the top even for the gang. That leaves room for some major political manoeuvring. We have 3 Labor councillors (Delahunty, Magee and Lobo); 2 Greens (Pilling and Sounness) and 4 Libs (Lipshutz, Hyams, Esakoff, Okotel). The possible combinations and permutations are mouth watering.
- Will the Greens join forces with Labor to run the roost and elect Pilling? If they do, what does this augur for the rest of the life of this council?
- Will Lobo ditch his Labor mates and side with the gang? What would Crean & Staikos think of this?
All in all, it should be a real eye-opener tomorrow night!
Glen Eira Debates 
October 31, 2012 at 3:31 PM
“Will Lobo ditch his Labor mates and side with the gang?”
If Lobo can do anything against Magee, he would do it in a heartbeat, Labor or not”.
October 31, 2012 at 6:22 PM
If this happens says a lot about the man of principle. I forget, we’ve already seen all these principles in aciton when he supported the gang to the hilt.
October 31, 2012 at 6:20 PM
Pilling is my tip. Sounness, Delahunty, Magee and Lobo will support him in my view.
And if Lipshutz doesn’t throw his hat into the ring so will Esakoff. Surprisingly, they get on.
October 31, 2012 at 7:48 PM
Okotel is the unknown quantity here. We’ll soon find out if she’s got a mind of her own or is Esakoff’s new found buddy.
October 31, 2012 at 9:14 PM
A deal has to be struck. It may be Pillng, but the Deputy from the block. But I think a Mayor from the block (even Lipshutz) with a Deputy like Pilling for next year.
October 31, 2012 at 9:22 PM
You’re joking. That’s like setting dracula loose in the blood bank.
October 31, 2012 at 9:22 PM
Esakoff needs to be Mayor as she appears to be the families breadwinner.
November 1, 2012 at 7:29 AM
Everyone agrees that this council needs to move forward, so having a mayor that was sacked previously by the Inspector doesn’t stack up to me.
October 31, 2012 at 10:47 PM
Will be worth watching to see how many of the newbies sign the code of conduct. It should be ripped apart before anyone signs on the dotted line if transparency is the fair dinkum objective.
November 1, 2012 at 8:06 AM
You are somehow stuck on voting blocks. It may not happen like that. I doubt that Simon Crean spends much of his time thinking about who is going to be the mayor of Glen Eira. Whovever becomes mayor someone else will get a go next year. Anyone could do it except maybe Magee.
November 1, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Here’s the program for Stonnington. Please note that the November 8th meeting is to swear councillors in and the following comes from the agenda for that meeting –
“SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING: WEDNESDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2012
Given the significant number of new Councillors a Special Council Meeting is scheduled for the Mayoral Election to be held on Wednesday 14 November 2012 following the Councillor Training and Induction weekend.
This will enable all Councillors to get to know the potential Mayoral candidates prior to any formal election being held. This will be followed by a small reception.”
November 1, 2012 at 12:14 PM
We do things differently at Glen Eira as you well know.
In any event, 5 councillors know each other well and, if you throw in Okotel, who is well versed in gang protocol 😉 that’s 6.
It’s out of Pilling and Hyams in my view. Pilling just. The deputy – who knows.
November 1, 2012 at 3:00 PM
Here is another possibility, if the Libs play hardball. Elect Lipshutz (or Esakoff if he can’t make it) and get Lobo as a deputy. After all Lobo does want to be a Mayor at one stage. If Pilling is elected than Lobo still needs to be considered as his Deputy. I can’t see that Libs or administration would agree to have 2 year non-lib Mayors? Do You?
November 1, 2012 at 3:20 PM
In the interest of transparency (which seems to be the word of the month) a non gang member needs to be appointed mayor.
November 1, 2012 at 3:55 PM
Irony!
November 1, 2012 at 4:01 PM
The powers-that-be do carry weight. But with the election of Mayor – I don’t think so.
I again ask those who post as ‘anonymous’ to please pick a username. It doesn’t make you any more exposed. It just makes it easier to have a conversation.
November 1, 2012 at 5:31 PM
If Pilling stands he will be guaranteed 4 votes – the 2 Greens, Magee and Delahunty. So once again it’s up to Lobo. Come on Oscar – at least turn up this time and tell us where you stand.
And I don’t think it matters much whether the Mayor is elected tonight or or later. We have 6 continuing councillors and of the new councillors, Sounness’ and Okotel’s positions are predictable and I believe Mary Delahunty already has a good appreciation of where the other councillors stand.
November 1, 2012 at 6:46 PM
He wll be elected tonight.
November 9, 2012 at 2:30 PM
Can you please get all of them to investigate if any relationship exists between the former Mayor of Glen Eira (David Feldman 2005) and the contract awarded (in 2009) by the Glen Eira Council to people called Feldman who own the building on the corner opposite the Town Hall, for lease of office space for use by Council officers during a refurbishment of Oak Tree House adjacent to the Town Halll? As of November 2012, has the refurbishment been completed and has the lease expired?