Elections have come and gone and Glen Eira has 4 new councillors – Daniella Arabella, Kimberley Young, Kay Rimbaldo, Luca Ragni. Returning councillors are: Margaret Esakoff, Jane Karslake, Sam Parasol, Li Zhang and Simone Szmood. The latter was last night unanimously elected as Mayor.
We wish all these new councillors well over the coming four years and hope that their vision is firmly centred on representing their constituents rather than any allegiances to political parties. Glen Eira certainly needs a proper commitment to preserve heritage, stop state government ad hoc planning travesties, and to prioritise our environment and its challenges. We also need consultation processes that are genuine and have full councillor and consultation committee involvement.
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that we are surprised, yet pleased, that two candidates failed to achieve election – Magee and Pilling. This engenders hope that the community is becoming more aware of what is required in this municipality from their councillors.
Glen Eira Debates 
November 27, 2024 at 10:40 AM
First election under the Andrews government’s 2020 voter suppression legislation, in part designed to increase Labor representation at the expense of genuine independents. (Odd that they were seeking to replicate the dysfunction that led to the sacking of Geelong CC.) Very welcome to see new people on Council. Disappointing to see so little information available about non-incumbent candidates. Concerned about Carnegie since Cr Karslake keeps defending State Labor planning decisions. Need better processes for documenting decisions made under delegated authority. Evidence that GECC does actually criticize State Government occasionally would be welcome.
November 27, 2024 at 9:20 PM
The new composition of council places the majority in the Labor camp. Maybe not card carrying members but certainly ‘affiliated’ in spirit. This does not augur well when we have a state government running amok and demolishing all principles of democratic process and justification for what they’re doing. More than ever local councils need to unite and fight tooth and nail against an autocratic government that shows no respect for communities and their local representatives.
November 27, 2024 at 3:29 PM
Let’s hope these newbies improve the air quality at the town hall. The CEO needs to be dragged out of her thumb-twiddling comfort zone. You correct, its good to see the back end of Magee. Don’t forget Cades glorious loss. She may have done better or even won if she had contested her home ground. I get the feeling revenge motivates the man from Murrumbeena. His environmental score card was woeful at its best. Maybe I should use this moment to bite my tongue and sign off.