Glen Eira Debates

From: “Jill Esplan (Glen Eira RO)” <Jill.Esplan@vec.vic.gov.au>

Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2012 19:54:27 +1100

Subject: Computer count result.

Dear Candidates,

Please find attached the computer results of the 2012 Glen Eira election.

Congratulations to the successful candidates :

Camden : Michael Lipshutz, Mary Delahunty and Thomas Sounness

Rosstown: Margaret Esakoff, Karina Okotel and Neil Pilling

Tucker: Jamie Hyams, Oscar Lobo and Jim Magee.

The formal declaration will take place at 9am tomorrow morning at the Town Hall.

Regards,

Jill Esplan

Returning Officer

Glen Eira Council Election

ph. 9563 5013

There must be real fun and games going on at the count. We now have confirmation of the THIRD DELAY! (See below). There are two possibilities for these continued delays – (1) computer problems, or (3) major argey-bargey with and between scrutineers. If the latter then we assume things are indeed very, very, close in at least 2 wards.

“Dear Candidates,

Here’s the promised update.

The calculation will now take place for all wards in alpha order commencing at 6pm this evening.

The declaration has now been tentatively set for 9am tomorrow morning.  The venue remains the same.

Regards

Jill Esplan

Returning Officer

Glen Eira Council Election

ph. 9563 5013

In front of countless residents waiting to vote late this afternoon, Esakoff, Hyams and Jack Esakoff sank to the lowest depths of gutter politics and personal slander. Here’s what happened.

Penhalluriack was speaking with a voter in the queue who had asked him a question. The unholy triumvirate were on the opposite side of the queue. Penhalluriack started answering the resident’s questions by pointing out the huge interest bill accrued via GESAC and the impact on rates for the next 15 years. Esakoff intervened with “tell the truth Frank”. Penhalluriack told her to mind her own business since he was basically engaged in a private conversation. Mr Esakoff then accused Penhalluriack of lying and the crème de resistance came from Hyams who stated that Penhalluriack has no “principles”.

Not only was such behaviour embarrassing, it demeaned council and in particular these 3 individuals. We also have to wonder whether it possibly breached the councillor code of conduct. This is not the first time that Hyams has revealed his true colours with obnoxious remarks directed at both councillors and residents. Mr Esakoff’s performance over these past two weeks also needs to come under scrutiny. As for Esakoff herself, we can only surmise that if she had devoted as much time to being an informed councillor as she is to muck-raking and electioneering, then Glen Eira would be a far better place.

Council elections everywhere are on the nose. Media reports across the state have featured:

• Alleged physical confrontations
• Police charges
• Refusal to disclose financial contributions from developers
• Countless complaints to the VEC and Municipal Inspectorate
• Appalling lack of public information regarding the various candidates
• Stooges everywhere
• And much, much more

Glen Eira Council elections have not been immune to many of the above criticisms. The Leader has been totally derelict in its duty to report the news. We can only wonder why. It’s indeed a sad state of affairs when we’ve received scores of emails from residents asking for information on the various candidates – whether we know what political party they might belong to and what their preferences are.

Reports from residents tell us that the front steps of the town hall has been the scene for altercations between councillors and candidates; between residents and councillor husbands; formal complaints about accosting residents in the car park and other sundry matters. Certainly not a good look.

Yesterday however took the cake. A queue of up to 100 people was streaming out the polling booth early evening. Many were frustrated at the delay and at the inadequate staffing of the booth. At one point those waiting in the queue were told to go to the East Caulfield location! Not good enough! When literally hundreds of thousands of dollars are handed over to the VEC to conduct elections then one has every right to expect that the service is totally professional and efficient.

We also cannot fathom why the VEC places ‘Candidate Statements’ on its website – but only for those councils which have postal voting and NOT attendance voting. Nor can we fathom why the VEC refuses to publish each candidate’s voting card. It’s no wonder that council elections are treated as a joke by many and that candidates who do not have a huge bank balance, and are not supported by political parties and/or groups, are at a major disadvantage.

Politics has indeed become a dirty business. Glen Eira is no exception.