Hyams was elected Mayor tonight by a vote of 5 to 4.
Lobo nominated Hyams and Magee nominated Pilling. The votes in favour of Pilling were:
Delahunty
Pilling
Magee
Sounness
The votes in favour of Hyams were:
Hyams
Lipshutz
Esakoff
Okotel
Lobo
For Deputy Mayor there was only one person nominated by Hyams – Lobo. He was elected unopposed.
All councillors signed the Code of Conduct and 7 councillors were sworn in by Affirmation and 2 via the oath – Okotel and Lobo.
Glen Eira Debates 
November 1, 2012 at 8:54 PM
If there is any doubt about where Okotel stands we now know. Another Esakoff clone who I think is using her council role as a prelude to Liberal Party endorsement for State or Commonwealth parliament.
Lobo is a disgrace.
November 1, 2012 at 10:36 PM
It was very interesting to note that she thanked the Liberal member for Bentleigh for her help during the campaign
November 1, 2012 at 11:29 PM
She was inept on the campaign trail and clearly will be whilst ‘serving’ her self interests whilst on Council.
Disappointing!
November 1, 2012 at 9:17 PM
Hyams and Lobo! Glen Eira has reached a new low. Good reason to abolish local government.
November 1, 2012 at 9:28 PM
Judging by this we still have a divided and dysfunctional council. The gang has replaced Tang with another disciple and it doesn’t augur well for reform and open government. Newton is undoubtedly in 7th heaven and Lobo, that good Christian, appears to have once again sold his soul – but for so little!
November 1, 2012 at 10:17 PM
Deputy this year and mayor next. Worth about $130,000
November 2, 2012 at 9:42 AM
The Glen Eira council is not dysfunctional. You may recall that most of the strife revolved around one councilllor whom is no longer around. Having 3 younger people join the ranks can only be good for our City. You are appear to base your judgement on your own political ideas rather than reality.
November 2, 2012 at 10:30 AM
Anonymous, I think you are deluding yourself. Glen Eira Council was dysfunctional well before your so called “one councillor” joined your ranks, otherwise why all the past enquiries and sackings?
November 2, 2012 at 11:35 AM
Mayor Hyans referred to “four” negative candidates in council elections in his maiden speech, not just the one ‘dysfunctional’ councillor.
November 1, 2012 at 9:39 PM
So Oscar has finally stood up and shown his true colours. As Paul Keating once said “‘In the race of life, always back self-interest”.
The Labor Party have a word for people like Oscar – otherwise known as medium-sized long-tailed rodent.
Business as usual for the next 4 years for Glen Eira.
November 1, 2012 at 10:09 PM
Scab is also part of the lexicon
November 2, 2012 at 9:27 AM
Lobo did not campaign as an ALP candidate. Simply because he is an ALP member does not bring an obligation to support a Green as mayor. He is demonsrating his independant thought. This has to be good for the City. He is hardworking and represents all residents. He is not using our Council as a step into a Parliamentary career, unlike Pilling and now probably Delahunty. Well done Cr. Lobo. Hope you continue to seek your own advice rather than take intructions from non elected people.
November 2, 2012 at 10:10 AM
I hope you are right, however, past performance raises serious questions about this (the past 3 years were 6 months of guns a blazing, followed by 2 years to total silence, followed by 6 months of making comments, some effective but most ineffective). I’m gonna wait and see what happens over the next 12 months.
November 2, 2012 at 10:34 AM
Get off Lobo. He may be colourful and over the top but he works hard for residents and gets things done unlike Magee who talks big but achieves zilch.
November 2, 2012 at 10:55 AM
I don’t dispute your assessment of Magee’s performance but am having difficulty working out why you claim Lobo’s performance is any different. Could you please provide some details you consider to be Lobo’s achievements?
November 2, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Were you there last night at the sweaing in? There were many residents there from Tucker Ward who were thankingLobo for his assistance. You cannot judge a Councillor only by what you hear in the Council chamber. Most Councillors do a lot of work with residents in their private time. Lobo is known for that. Indeed, most Councillors last Council did so with the possible exceptions of Magee and Forge.
November 2, 2012 at 2:43 PM
so basically nothing and it only took four years to achieve
November 2, 2012 at 11:40 AM
Cr Lobo campaigned with leaflets of him and Simon Crean together. If that’s not Labor, I don’t know what is!
November 2, 2012 at 2:33 PM
So, what is wrong with anything he did. Under the ALP rules he would be suspended if he did not support an ALP Councillor for mayor. He did not support a Green. Nothing wrong with that. Bloke used his own judgement. He did not use ALP badging in his campaign.
November 2, 2012 at 3:33 PM
Only had Staikos as campaign manager and Crean on his how to vote card. That’s not labor is it? How much did they put into supporting him is the real question.
November 2, 2012 at 4:23 PM
All true but no ALP councillor put themself up a mayor. He did not support a Green councillor. All above board. After all who would want a Green mayor.
November 2, 2012 at 3:52 PM
He backed a Liberal mayor, which would anger a lot of Labor voters who supported him on the premise that he held himself out to be a Labor-supported candidate.
November 2, 2012 at 4:26 PM
Plenty of ALP voters dislike the Greens. You wait till thw next election and watch the ALP preference Libs over Greens in some seats.
November 3, 2012 at 7:06 AM
Amazing – amid claims of major parties not being relevant to local govt., we get this little zinger about ALP rules: if a party member does not support another party member running for mayor they can get suspended from the party.
If the major parties don’t openly endorse Council candidates then how can they have rules related to party members conduct as Councillors?
November 1, 2012 at 10:38 PM
His run for Deputy Mayor was backed by Staikos, who works for Crean.
November 2, 2012 at 1:07 PM
Quite right, business as usual. Pilling did not get to be a Mayor, because Lobo is seeking that glory. Next will be the distribution of responsibilities to Committees. You will find Lobo being busy. And Tucker Ward getting again more share of the pie. However, I am not sure that Lobo will get support from libs for the Maoralty next year. Remember, last term only libs were in that role! But then if he becomes a turn-coat, who knows.
November 2, 2012 at 3:56 PM
Judging my Hyams’ praise for him in his maiden speech, I imagine they’ve done a deal which will see Lobo get the Mayorship next year.
After his delusional speech at the meeting though, I think the Liberal councillors may regret doing a deal with him.
November 2, 2012 at 4:41 PM
I can’t see Lobo being Mayor next year. There is only one credible candidate after Hyams and that is Lipshutz. The new Councillors are too green, Magee is not the right fit and who wants a Green. I reckon that Lipshutz will be fair and run the Council well.
November 1, 2012 at 10:16 PM
Okotel have you read your “talk is cheap” flyer. Welcome to the gang, what’s it like to be a puppet on your third day in office. Lobo you have disappointed so many voters by going with the gang, you could have changed it all with your casting vote.
November 2, 2012 at 9:16 AM
Yes. Lobo should have supported his “comrades” (and I use that word in the true old Russian sense). We need a Greens/ALP led council. Then we could be just like Port Phillip!!
November 2, 2012 at 2:40 PM
Just check the Port Phillip Council. In one ward a Liberal won using the preferences of Dick Gross, long time ALP. This is a case where the Libs and the ALP combined to do over the Green. I understand that the Green was quite muffed as he easily outpolled the Lib. Good ol Dick was obliging. You need to be careful when you assume who are your comrades. Junction ward. The Green is called Middleton.
November 1, 2012 at 10:21 PM
Merely in terms of decency Pilling deserved to have the mayoralty. He’s done his apprenticeship last year and that should have been enough. It was his turn. Decency though doesn’t figure in the gang’s plans.
November 1, 2012 at 10:40 PM
Agree that Pilling deserved the job. It’s a disappointing outcome for him going from Deputy to Mayor to the ranks.
Lobo would be a disaster as Mayor. My tip is he’ll make such a hash of the Deputy’s role the gang won’t want to know him .
If Okotel continues to behave as a sycophant my tip is the gang will put her forward next time around.
November 1, 2012 at 10:45 PM
Hyams speech was pathetic. He sounded like the annual report. Terrific council, great bunch of councillors, a real team, high satisfaction rating but no longer the lowest rates. Glen Eira has now dropped to third. How about that? No policy speeches from anyone. Nothing about the future and what they want to achieve. Boring and predictable.
November 1, 2012 at 11:10 PM
It’s the second time he’s lobbed in by one vote. Not an overwhelming endorsement I would have thought.
November 1, 2012 at 11:13 PM
Correction Autonomy. Last year it was literally the toss of a coin with the vote standing at 4 all. Lobo absented himself last year.
November 1, 2012 at 11:51 PM
You are spot on. Even less convincing, ha?
November 2, 2012 at 8:08 AM
Delahunty said that ” I rise to…………….. during her speech. Nice speech but this is not Parliament. It is the local Council. Never heard that one before in the town hall, She needs to save that for later on. Nice food.
November 2, 2012 at 10:23 AM
I am amazed at the crap that I am reading. This site has bagged Hyams, Esakoff, Lipshutz, & Tang for years. You have bagged Pilling and Lobo. You have embraced Penhalluriack. Who won the recent election? Are you all right and the majority of residents all wrong. Wake up! The clear facts are that if one looks at the voting record of the Councillors (and I have) there is no “gang”. In the last Council more often than not Penhalluriack & Forge, joined occasionally with Magee were the minority. Since when is the majority a “gang”? From my observations Hyams won fairly and was a good Mayor. Esakoff isone of the hardest work Councillors as is Lobo. You don’t like Lipshutz – is that because he says it as it is? You only like Piliing when he sides with the minority. 91% of residents are happy. If this site is a genuine “debate” how about taking off your blinkers and making real comments that are worth listening to rather than the vicious bile that I as a resident am reading. I voted for Esakoff and I think she has done a great job.
November 2, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Most sensible comment since the commencement of this site!!
November 2, 2012 at 11:43 AM
If Lobo is so hard-working why did he miss so many council meetings in 2011/12, including those where the Mayor was elected?
November 2, 2012 at 4:59 PM
amen
November 2, 2012 at 11:35 AM
Time for a dose of reality! Hyams, Esakoff and Lipshutz were all emphatically re-elected with the highest vote in their respective wards. Meanwhile, your favourite son Penhalluriack unceremoniously got the boot! I too am sick of this site’s biased nonsense.
November 2, 2012 at 11:50 AM
The apologists have woken up this morning and decided to come out in full force judging by some of these ill informed comments. On the election results themselves they only prove two things – incumbents have an advantage, especially when they have a big purse and backing and also if you throw enough mud some of it will stick as with Penhalluriack. Even Lipshutz’s vote was down in comparison to 2008. Another salient factor is that many if not most people didn’t give a stuff about the election. They didn’t know one name from the rest and the results show that barely 55% of the electorate put in a valid vote. Of these probably 3 to 4% were donkey anyway. So I wouldn’t be gloating about how wonderful the results were.
I’m looking ahead and think that in four years time things will be radically different. By then many more people will have become aware of the shambles that is Glen Eira Council when overdevelopment will be on everyone’s lips and they can’t get their cars out of their drives. With this prodevelopment lot at the helm they will sow the seeds for their own destruction.
November 2, 2012 at 12:27 PM
It’s a bit rich to claim residents are ill informed because they don’t agree with you…The election is a much better indicator of community sentiment than a few posts by people with vested interests on a blog…and the election results show that people are very happy with the performance of Lipshutz, Esakoff and Hyams…but not Penhalluriack.
November 2, 2012 at 4:52 PM
Luke- FYI- only if residents are well informed do your comments have validity.
The issue is unfortunately most voters dont know one candidate from another & dont bother to find out the required info or the actual preferentail voting game, anyway.
Only a very smll minority understand the local govt election process and this is why the incubents get voted in, . This is a proven fact confirmed by analyis VEC conducts.
What needs to happen is that VEC has to take amore procative role is educating voters & I understand this will be commencing soon.
So, the current results in GE may be quite different next time round.
November 2, 2012 at 6:09 PM
Yes, next time the greens will have to spend their own money like most other candidates. What the Greens do amounts to corporate sponsership. Everything provided. They fell short of their plan in Glen Eira and Port Phillip.
November 2, 2012 at 10:15 PM
And where do all these “independent” candidates get the money to fund their campaigns, I wonder?
November 2, 2012 at 10:36 PM
Once again, just because the vast majority of residents don’t agree with you doesn’t mean that they are not well informed. Lots of incumbent councillors throughout Victoria were defeated (including Penhalluriack and Forge) yet the ones who are constantly attacked by this site were emphatically returned. By the way, it is not the VEC’s role to ‘educate’ people on the merits or shortcomings of candidates but rather to facilitate the operation of elections.
November 3, 2012 at 3:51 PM
Luke- VEC ‘s role is not to educate the community about the pros & cons of individual candidates- but the process of electuions and preferential voting -definitely their role!
Perhaps you may like to contact VEC yourself and find out.
November 5, 2012 at 2:13 PM
A role which the VEC carries out. I don’t see any connection between this and certain councillors being returned or defeated.
November 2, 2012 at 12:06 PM
Have you heard of a Glen Eira voting trait called the “Jewish vote”. I’m not saying all their votes were of that nature but it certainly would be an avalanche. So I think your figures are out of balance, Its funny you continue to read such vile, why dont you turn off. I didn’t see many comments from you prior to the vote?
November 2, 2012 at 12:22 PM
I guess you are right. Most residents have no idea and could not care less, that is why Lipshutz, Esakoff and Hyams won so overwhelmingly not needing preferences. Jewish vote? Is there such a thing in Tucker Ward? I guess the residents who elected the Councillors are all stupid but those posting on this blog and who despise those Councillors and any one else who supports them are so correct! How arrogant to think you guys are right and to make excuses for what was clearly a resounding vote of confidence in the returning Councillors
November 2, 2012 at 12:42 PM
Passion with the debate is good but please dont shoot the messenger. GE debates tells it like it is and alerts us all to council failings. We have had councillors that dont seem to represent the ratepayers of their ward and it is they who are judged the harshest. Lets look forward to a new council that will have the interests of the community foremost in their decision making. This blog does give people a voice. Keep reading and like me, learn about Glen Eira. Debates often gives credit too…only when it is due though!
November 2, 2012 at 12:58 PM
Tell that to Cr Lobo who was very disparaging of this forum in his impromptu speech at the swearing in of the new Council
November 2, 2012 at 1:20 PM
Brendan, I have been following this blog for some time but until now have not posted. I thought that once the election was over there might be and end to the bagging of Councillors. It appears not. As for your comment that Debates gives credit too. It has never given credit to Hyams, Esakoff or Lipshutz and has bagged Tang and Pilling and even Magee when they have voted with them. The only credit has been to Councillors who have opposed. Over the last 12 months look at all the credit given to Forge and Penhalluriack. – wel they were rejected by the voters. I’m all in favour of a genuine exchange of ideas and a debate but when it is one sided and Councillors are demonised that is not fair. Look at Okotel. She has not beena Councillor for 10 seconds and she is already being categorised and bagged. Luke Corcoran is right – it is time for a reality check.
November 2, 2012 at 1:56 PM
The reality check will come when we get to see exactly what this council is going to do about the local law, the planning scheme and improving overall governance. My take is bugger all and don’t tell me that people are happy with that.
November 2, 2012 at 3:41 PM
The real truth is that most people have other things to do with their time than take on the town hall. Maybe the old American adage applies,” you can’t fight City Hall”.
November 2, 2012 at 6:08 PM
Henry,
Like yourself I thought that the new group would be given a chance but freedom of speech prevails and so be it. I don’t agree with most of the disparaging comments. Debates does give credit when it is due, unfortunately those you mention probably haven’t done enough to warrant that reward.
Forge and Penhalluriack ran a terrible PR campaign where they talked up the problems of some of the incumbents rather than focus on what they could contribute to a united council and that backfired at the polls. They are both probably relieved to be out of the limelight and headlines.
With the elections now out of the way we should now all sit back and see this new group evolve; hopefully they will show more strength as a group and look after the ratepayers who put them there in the first place but as we all know, you can’t please everyone!
November 2, 2012 at 4:41 PM
This is the first time I have looked at this blog since June, and I see nothing has changed. A brilliant example is the post on “appalling behaviour”. Your concern was not Frank misleading voters, but the Esakoffs and me telling him to be honest. Given the nature of many of your posts, and the comments that appear under them, I understand your aversion to honesty. (By the way, seeing you obviously missed it, my comment about Frank having no principles was a pun, because he was claiming that the whole repayment was interest, and ignoring the principal.)
Let me point out some relevant facts. The three councillors who you have spent the last few years relentlessly attacking and at times defaming, Margaret, Michael and me, each received the highest primary votes in our respective wards. By contrast, Frank and Cheryl, the councillors who were never criticised, and often lionised, were the only incumbent candidates not returned, with Cheryl setting the record for the lowest primary vote ever recorded by an incumbent in Glen Eira, and that was despite her having the benefit of the donkey vote. In fact, it appears that the more a councillor was attacked by this blog, the better they did, and vice versa.
This demonstrates that this blog is as irrelevant as it is nasty, dishonest and cowardly. Surely it’s time for you to find something constructive to do with your time, if you can.
November 2, 2012 at 5:25 PM
I did not vote for any of the councillors you have cited Mr Hyams. That in your view would make me biased I’m sure. Others have already commented on the voting figures so I won’t repeat the obvious that ignorance on the part of electors is not necessarily a ringing endorsement of yourself and the others. Be that as it may, I find your insistence that this blog is “irrelevant” and yet your writing to it somewhat contradictory, if not just plain vindictive. If as you say this website is irrelevant then why bother to respond at all?
Events can be interpreted in many ways. Council and yourself are prone to one view only – that in the pantheon of local government Glen Eira is without peer. Unfortunately, not everyone is of the same view. When there is no opposition in local government, and no contrary voices who dare ask the appropriate questions, then blogs such as this perform a necessary and much needed service. I’ve found the posts well researched and certainly well documented. We can’t all agree, granted, but that does not give you the right to dismiss everything. I would have thought that as a conscientious councillor your task would be to take the criticisms on board and attempt to improve the situation for residents. It is far too easy to simply dismiss everything as “nasty, dishonest and cowardly” rather than investigating the issues and then doing something positive.
November 2, 2012 at 4:46 PM
Henry,
There are many things you have posted that are accurate.
The blog has been very critical of some councillors. On occasions that has been unfair. On many others, on the money.
I wouldn’t be too energised by the numbers achieved by Lipshutz, Esakoff and Okotel. The reality is that the overwhelming majority of ratepayers are either ambivalent or uninterested. I’m tempted to go further. Esakoff and Okotel both ran very energetic and focussed door-to-door campaigns. Credit to them for their efforts. But don’t mistake that for ratepayers actually knowing – or caring – what they stand for.The poor voter turnout in nearly all municipalities shows how apathetic most people are.
As for the early criticism of Okotel. Every one of her actions to date has backed-up the view that she is just another conservative who will sing from the reactionary song book. Get back to me when she demonstrates some independent action.
November 2, 2012 at 6:16 PM
Funny thing is if Pilling was mayor and Read was elected in Tucker ward you would probably say that the voters were well informed. When it doesn’t go all your way you say that the voters are not engaged. You fit well with the fellow that quoted Paul Keating about self interest.
November 2, 2012 at 7:10 PM
Anonymous, who hasn’t the guts to define him/herself with a username, take the time to garner some reliable information before making a fool of yourself
For example, the poor turnout. As low as 50% in some municipalities. Pretty engaged huh?
For example, the Ward in our Council to which you drew attention (Tucker) where the informal vote was 13%. Pretty engaged huh?
November 2, 2012 at 8:19 PM
Yeh, yeh, yeh, Like I said if the mayor was someone you approved of the voters would be seen as astute. When Hyams became mayor the voters are not engaed. In Port Phillip the turn out was far lower. Maybe that is the reason that the ALP no longer controls the numbers on the Council and a Liberal got elected over a Green with the help of Dick Gross’s 2nd preference. Dick took the punt and lost, So did the Green candidate. The cry goes out for voter education.
November 2, 2012 at 10:35 PM
Mr/Mrs yeh,yeh.yeh. How intelligent! My point regarding voters not being engaged related to all municipal elections had you assimilated it. But thanks for confirming how disengaged voters were. Although you clearly didn’t get the connection.
The informal vote in Tucker was twice that which occurred in most wards in Port Phillip. But why spoil a story with the evidence.
Had you paid much attention to this blog you would know I have been quite critical of Councillor Pilling. Foremost amongst that criticism was him being an active part of a Council that was so secretive, despite his pre-election catchcry being openness, transparency and accountability. By why spoil a story with the evidence.
While putting down the Greens in Port Phillip you fail to mention there are now two Greens councillors in your own municipality. But why spoil a story with the evidence.
As for your friend Councillor Hyams, he is the skin-of-the-teeth Mayor. The toss-of-the–coin Mayor the first time, and the Mayor nearly half the Council don’t want this time. Having been part of the dysfunctional and incompetent Council so badly governed it was sacked some time ago he should have done what many of his colleagues did and never stood again.
November 3, 2012 at 7:52 AM
Yeh, Hyams is a bit like Gillard. By the skin of the teeth. Just hanging on despite unpopularity. A win is a win in politics. Pilling has been an effective councillor and is an honest and decent man. He had incumbency and would be elected regardless of having a green badge. The new fellow in Camden Ward reminded me of a year 12 student that was uneasy with the position that he found himself when he realised everyone was listening to him. He will learn that being a councillor has legal requirements and he is sitting with serious and intelligent and experienced people. I understand he has some town planning learnings, this being that case he will understand that the planning laws are just that laws not half baked emotional clap trap about climate change. Be very interesting to hear him speak on town planning matters as it takes up most of the councillors time. You should understand that politics is just a game and cool down a bit, Autonomy. Lovely result in Port Phillip. Might get a Liberal mayor.
November 3, 2012 at 12:03 PM
The new Green in Camden – like a deer in headlights. Probably didn’t expect to get in. Now sitting at the grown-ups table. Will find it tough going.
November 4, 2012 at 12:38 PM
Guess you’re right about me being a tad intense ‘anon’. However politics is no game either. When you have 9 councillors, none of who have any major corporate financial experience – as far as I can fathom it -, being responsible for a mega million dollar budget, well……………..Fair old game, wouldn’t you say?
November 2, 2012 at 5:03 PM
Mr Hyams- Tell us here in this blog how you, as the again elected mayor are going to lead and improve :
Transparency & governnace of Council
Planning decsions
The massive traffic problems across the City but mostly the rat-runs your policies have created in local residential streets
The rubbish and duming in local streets that Council either levaes for ages or doec not bother to clean up.
And lastly, perhaps stopping councillors bickering would be really great! (Sick of it & as the costs associated with the prolonged BICKERING I & other ratepayers have had to bear- unacceptbale!).
November 2, 2012 at 6:18 PM
I doubt that the mayor is reading. As he said he has not looked at this blog since June and I reckon he wll not be looking at it at least till next June.
November 2, 2012 at 7:21 PM
I for one am not convinced that entry #16 has been written by our Mayor. On each occasion I have spoken to Jamie, he has been respectful, listened, then told me I was wrong. And I listen, note all the assumptions that haven’t been backed up by data along with council behaviors that contradict what they say publicly, and respond. Abusing everybody who chooses to express themselves here is not consistent with his personal ethics as I have perceived them. The real Jamie also wouldn’t say he hadn’t read something for umpteen months and then blindly criticise everything that he hadn’t read. I will add though that my experience of Councillors are that they are uncomfortable with criticism, are very keen to defend themselves despite and regardless of the evidence, and don’t like changing.
November 2, 2012 at 8:23 PM
Well scribed as always, my good man. You are right about Hyams. No way he wrote that piece.
November 2, 2012 at 10:29 PM
Not sure why you say that Reprobate. Sounds exactly like the Jamie I know. So if it’s not Jamie it’s a very good impersonator.
Regarding other comments here, I think the criticism of Okotel is unwarranted. It’s quite clear where she stands – right beside Esakoff. That became very clear during the campaign. I wouldn’t have expected her to vote any other way. Having had a brief conversation with her during the campaign, she comes across as quite sincere and I expect that, in time, she may well display some independence on some issues but politically she is an ally of Esakoff, Hyams and Lipshutz. She obviously put in the effort required to get elected and has earned her position on council.
Lobo however, is a totally different matter. I understand he was supported by local Labor Party members (as was Delahunty) and it was mentioned his campaign was managed by former councillor Nic Staikos. Now for most of Nic’s time on council he was regularly personally attacked by Lipshutz backed up by Hyams over his membership of the Labor Party. Whenever he tried to make a statement or ask a question he was interrupted with points of order. When Esakoff was elected Mayor, he (together with Jacqui Robilliard) very publicly spoke out in dissent against the appropriateness of electing a councillor who had so recently been part of a sacked council. So I can’t believe Nic would be too impressed by Lobo’s support for Hyams.
I really can’t fathom why Lobo voted the why he did other than self-interest. I don’t know whether has has done a deal. But – Lobo nominates Hyams, Hyams nominates Lobo. Coincidence maybe, but it reminds me of the saying “If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.”
November 3, 2012 at 9:56 AM
Staikos endorsed Lobo’s run for Deputy Mayor in exchange for supporting Hyams for Mayor. Afterwards, he was boasting that Glen Eira had a Labor Deputy Mayor (missing the small point that Lobo had supported a Liberal for the top job).
November 4, 2012 at 5:30 PM
Mr. Staikos is correct. He has every right to be pleased. Cr. Lobo will be a very suitable deputy. He was elected unopposed. It is not unusual that a Labor person supports a Liberal. Or the other way around. This happens all over the place. For a first term council having an experienced mayor can’t be a bad thing. Hyams only had effectively 9 months in the job. His experience will pay long term benefits for the 3 new councillors.
November 4, 2012 at 9:46 PM
Should be an interesting time in the coming weeks with a Labour man siding with the reactionaries. I have a feeling Lobo will either be in for a torrid time as he wrestles with his principles or he’ll throw them out and become a fully paid-up member of the reactionaries in order to escape the minefield.
November 5, 2012 at 7:10 AM
Labor not Labour. you must be a pom.
November 5, 2012 at 8:55 AM
Judging by Cr Lobo’s rambling speech at council’s first meeting, I’m not sure your view of him as a “suitable Deputy” is too accurate.
November 3, 2012 at 10:28 AM
Normally you would be right Reprobate, but when even a seemingly reasonable person like yourself can stoop so low as to bestow a Nazi rank on a Mayor simply because you disagree with the way a meeting is run, because you know that the anonymity you hide behind makes you unaccountable when you should be ashamed, it is clear that this blog is toxic, and beyond redemption. The Council’s continuing high satisfaction ratings and especially the election results also show that it is completely unrepresentative of the community, and ineffective. Has there ever been a post complementary of this Council or of Margaret, Michael or me? Yet we each polled the highest votes in our wards.
With the recent focus on Internet trolls, the day of the defamatory blog may be coming to an end. Then we’ll see how many of you are actually willing to be accountable for your comments (and how many actual different people contribute to the bile here.)
November 3, 2012 at 11:37 AM
How typical of you to resort to threats and outraged innocence. If we’re talking of bile, then you certainly have a surplus of this liquid and it has been displayed numerous times when you’ve occupied the chair as mayor. With this latest effort I cannot see any hope for improvement in your performance.
November 3, 2012 at 3:46 PM
For the record, I didn’t bestow a Nazi rank on a Mayor, which makes it pointless arguing about what my reasons were for not doing something. What I *did* do is point out that under our Local Law, the mayor or chairperson (which is a role within a meeting, not a person) has extraordinary and dictatorial powers. I used a common rhetorical device widely found in newspapers and Hansard to “cut-through”. The literal translation from German is something like Group Team Leader, fairly inocuous and accurate. The context of the comment was in response to a meeting that was not conducted in accordance with Council’s Local Law. This should be of concern to all councillors, but it wasn’t at the time. I remain concern that Council tolerates these breaches, suspecting its because it cares more about the end result rather than the means. The interjector was you Jamie Hyams, and “relevance” is a singularly inappropriate Point of Order when applied to a Right To Make A Statement. The Right is there for a reason, which is listed in s238. Councillors should consider removing it if they don’t believe in it.
I have previously explained my reasons for choosing anonymity here. They involve physical violence and threats against me and my family. Defamation Law in Australia is used exclusively by rich and powerful people to bludgeon others into silence. Council has access to considerable resources and means of disseminating its message, with few opportunities for redress by those targeted. I would rather spend my time analyzing the gap between what Council says and does than defend myself from personal attack. In the comments that I have made, there are some recurring themes: around Council not doing what it says, or misleading the public, or failing in its powers, duties and functions. I don’t agree with characterising it as bile, which is rather pejorative. This current tendency of some councillors to lash out wildly in all directions against people who are unhappy with some aspects of governance is ultimately self-defeating. The energy would be better directed towards improving governance.
If posters are forced to disclose their identifies then there would probably be a very rapid drying up of comments, as ordinary people cannot afford the risk of being targeted by those with access to Council’s resources. Just the threat alone is sufficient to silence dissent. Under our Local Law, dissent is not to be tolerated. Why councillors think this would be a good thing hasn’t been explained publicly, and doesn’t appear on their election material. I hope the outburst above is not an example of how Council proposes to improve consultation with the Community.
I’m not ashamed of my contribution here. A lot of time has gone into research for many of my comments, addressing a gap that Council should be filling. Sometimes statements get made without all the data or supporting evidence, but if challenged they could be provided. Dismissing everything simply as “bile” is a poor way to respond to genuine concerns, but I acknowledge that some posts here are likely to have been made anonymously by councillors, those containing a lot of spelling and grammatical errors being very distinctive.
November 3, 2012 at 4:03 PM
I think its so unbecoming of you Mr Mayor to engage in such mud slinging as you are here.
Dont ignore aratepayer Mr Mayor- Im waiting to hear some positive comments from you about how you intend to lead & make sure there’s genuine consultation with the community, significantly improved governnace & transparency of decision maing & back to basic services like traffic calming, cleaning up the streets (a dump at the moment specially around shopping strips), fixing up the rotten footpaths and degraded kerbs & drainage (we just need one ‘Sandy’ here in Elwood/Elsternwick & its all over-just like NY/New Jersey.
So, anxiously waiting to hear your Leadership approach- start here in this Blog today.
November 3, 2012 at 4:15 PM
Amen to your lucid and justified response Reprobate. It is becoming increasingly tiresome for Hyams and this council to repeatedly trot out as justification for their non action on so many fronts the figures of 91% satisfaction ratings by residents. If people bothered to analyse these figures then the truth would really surface. To start with, only 400 people took part in the sample survey. I think it’s far more telling that the gap between expectation and performance attained dimensions that would put the Grand Canyon to shame. Performance versus expectation of even these 400 people were in those issues that have surfaced again and again – planning, consultation and traffic. Hyams and his cohorts would be far better councillors if they concentrated on these aspects of life in our municipality rather than spending their time reading blog sites that they claim they never read or taking offence at the slightest criticism.
I also think that people criticise when they see that their genuine concerns are ignored, deflected, and rejected. The perfect example is what happens with petitions. They are “noted” only to then evaporate into the distant fog of the council minutes. This is then recorded as “consultation” no doubt.
Anonymity is a fundamental right of all citizens. Complaints even to council can be made anonymously. The blog is no exception and the reasons have been eloquently put by Reprobate. It is the complaint that needs to be addressed and not the addressee. If the complaint has merit, then council should ensure that it does all in its power to rectify the situation. So far this has not occurred. Unless there is a major change in attitude by Hyams and the administration then residents will continue to be treated as gullible and irrelevant and those that complain will be vilified instead of being listened to.
The two comments by Hyams do not fill me with confidence that true and proper governance can ever be the cornerstone of the body politic in Glen Eira.
November 4, 2012 at 3:14 PM
If D Evans you are correct that only 400 people took part in this satisfaction survey then I find this figure matches the number of residents, including myself, who attended a meeting some years ago organised by the Council, where they took no notice whatsoever of any suggestions put forward by residents. They didn’t regard that as a representative figure then – so what’s the difference? There have been other forums, meetings and petitions on various matters with the same outcome. Why bother? Perhaps another example of why residents have lost interest in the “process”.
November 3, 2012 at 5:07 PM
Hey Jamie me boy, are ya also gonna try and sue the leader for defamation?
http://caulfield-glen-eira-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/glen-eira-council-elections-2012/#comments
November 4, 2012 at 8:09 AM
The Blog is boiling over. Someone turn the bloody stove off.
November 4, 2012 at 10:21 AM
Is Stove the new name for Mayor?
November 4, 2012 at 2:40 PM
No, silly duffa, the mayor is Robert Doyle.
November 5, 2012 at 3:23 AM
Ola Pend…”
GLEN EIRA DEBATES/COMMENTS.
Please do not delete this replay (be fair) as I have disclosed my name and I am not writing under an anonymous burqa.
I have read with interest the various DEROGATORY 82 comments made by people who look down upon others. The gas tank is released before they go home.
This is attributed to lack of education in a proper private schools and top notch universities. I believe a well educated person who has travelled the world will not succumb to such comments and particularly a father or a mother who have dearth of time will not write the pooh material.
I thought the mission statement of the blog was “We are committed to facilitating genuine debate within Glen Eira…. This blog is not a debate but comments as can be shown that 86 comments have been received under the title of “NOT QUIET “TWO UP”! – with 86 comments instead of Debates.
PRIDE AND ENVY CAN CAUSE THE BEST OF MEN TO SUCCUMB TO THEIR INFLUENCE……..
I will respond in seriatim some of the interesting comments (debates?!) that have been posted in the topic under reference.
1. Comment on the blog: Hyams and Lobo! Glen Eira has reached a new
low. Good reason to abolish local government.
Ans: Are you a “loco” in spanish? – You would like to abolish local
government just because you dislike two people on the council?
This shows that you do not put your cranium in gear before putting
your fingers on keyboard in motion. You are indeed a Richard
Cranium these two words I picked up from the blog. Very
educational stuff on this blog!!!!
2. Comment on the blog: Newton is undoubtedly in 7th heaven and Lobo,
that good Christian, appears to have once again sold his soul – but for
so little!
Ans. In your denomination of religion, how many souls does your
teaching say? Your statement “..that good Christian, appears to
have once again sold his soul – but for so little.
weak in religion.
3. Comment on the blog: Lobo would be a disaster as Mayor. My tip is he’ll
make a hash of the Deputy’s role the gang won’t want to know him (By
a famous autonomy)
Ans: What do you mean a disaster – is it the same as a disaster when
you get divorced by your wife or partner? Are you comparing me
with ex Mayor Helen Whiteside and her description that appeared
in the Age some 10 days ago. Ms. Whiteside bit the hand that fed
her? I do not think I will follow her footsteps if and when my turn
comes.
4 Comment on the blog: Lobo you have disappointed so many voters by
going with the gang. You could have changed it all with your casting
vote.
Ans: Are you one of the voters that is disappointed? Please let me
know. I am happy to talk to you and others. You know how to
reach me on mobile and e-mail.
5. Comment on the blog: If Lobo is so hard-working why did he miss so
many council meetings in 2011/12, including those where the Mayor was
elected?
Ans: Did you ask me that question before? I would have told you the
real reason; I showed explained my circumstances and showed my
sick leave certificate. Did you expect a copy of the certificate to be
sent for this blog. If so, let us know.
6. Comment on the blog: Tell that to Cr Lobo who was very disparaging of
this forum in his impromptu speech at the swearing in of the new Council
Ans. Read 1 Corinthians 16:11-21 (The Message)
You guys just do not have a clue about Jamie Hyams. Terming him as
NAZI is just below the belt. One is sick to stoop so low. Have you met
Jamie Hyams before, if not you need to meet him and then comment and hear/see for yourself how decent he is with lots of patients.He uses rationale where required, smart and intelligent,affable, extremely good memory,making things happen rather than waiting for things to happen
(principles of late Stephen Covey). Very co-operative, ready to assist residents of Glen Eira not only Tucker ward. I do not have to justify to you why I have proposed him as a Mayor but I will let you in. There are multifarious reasons: He has the required knowledge, he writes well, portrays good true and proper image. Does not assume things like
most of you guys. I could go on and on about him and my other colleagues. Just because Jamie belongs to Liberal party, it does not mean that we should hate one another. I work on the methodoligy of observing, investigating, verifying, reporting and then decision making.When a decision is made, it is made on the basis of what is beneficial to the residents who have put us in a trustworthy position. If residents were unhappy, this would reflect in the latest reports on the declarations of
the number of votes we all received.
Smart Aleck, D. Evans. Elsternwick need a good holiday!!!!!!
I believe we have many unusually stupid people in this universe. They need to grow up and not succumb to knee jerk re-action. I seize this
opportunity to thank other positive anonymous people who wrote in
defence of me and I thank them warmly.
A. Comments on November 2, 2012 at 9:27 by an Anonymous.
B. Comment on November 2, 2012 at 10.34 am – Henry Richards. He
may have been served by me or been told of my attention to every
problem my residents have.
C. Comment on November 2, 2012 at 10.10 and 10.34 am – Thank you.
Hope you enjoyed the foregoing as I thought I would respond with my name. Beware the fury of a patient man.