General News
4 August, 2024
Hopefuls vow to put their hats in the ring
At least three of the nine people who completed Horsham Rural City Council's Community Leadership Program say they will stand as candidates in the October local government elections.
Victoria's municipal elections will be held on October 26, with nominations accepted between September 19 and 24.
People intending to stand in Horsham include Brian Basham, Angie Munn and Rebecca Sluggett.
Natimuk farmer Brian Klowss, Nurrabiel farmer Todd Wilson who lives at Sunnyside, Telangatuk East farmer Kathy Ross and Horsham resident Liezel Legaspi are considering their options, while returned Horsham resident Richard Natoli has declined to put his name forward.
One person who completed the course asked not to be named or their comments recorded.
The course, over three days, covered numerous aspects of local government, including governance and the role councillors played in their municipality.
Mr Klowss, who lives in Wyn Wyn ward and is a fifth generation farmer who runs a merino stud at Arapiles Plains, said representation for rural communities was essential.
Mr Basham, who plans to stand in Green Park ward and narrowly missed out on a seat at a previous election, said his aim would be to "bring the council back to the community" and to offer a fresh approach to municipal matters.
Mrs Ross, wife of current councillor Ian Ross and a Wyn Wyn ward resident, said she was considering standing, but did not want to divulge in which ward.
Ms Legaspi said the sessions were very informative and she had "many positives and many negatives" to consider before nominating.
Mrs Munn, a fifth generation Horsham resident who grew up in Horsham North and who lives in May Park ward, intends to stand in Oatlands ward because of her contacts with that area.
She said she wanted to see a stronger and more inclusive municipality where councillors worked as a united team.
"I care about our community and its future," she said. "As a member of a family that has called this municipality home for five generations, I am deeply committed to its wellbeing."
She said her career path reflected a commitment to leadership, community service, teamwork and change management.
"Now, more than ever, I believe in the need for significant change where councillors work as a united team towards common goals," she said.
"Together, we can create a stronger, more inclusive municipality where everyone feels valued. It’s a great place to live, and together we can make it even better."
Ms Sluggett, who lives in Wyn Wyn ward and is considering standing in Kalimna, said she had thought deeply about why she intended to stand for the council.
"I still don't have the answer I think people would expect," she said. "I don't have a personal agenda to fix roads, or keep the main street as it is or anything like that.
"My reasons are more personal. I love living in Horsham. My family and I love fishing in the river, using the playgrounds and we really love the friendly people.
"I want Horsham to be somewhere that is sustainable and inviting enough that my kids can either stay, or choose to come home to Horsham when they have families of their own."
Ms Sluggett said she had been involved in many community groups, enjoyed people and politics, especially local matters, and enjoyed considering ideas and differing views on issues before deciding on action.
"Being a councillor would be the ultimate community service role for me," she said.
"It would give me the opportunity to help Horsham people and help decide and direct the future of our home area while providing a space for me to do something I really enjoy."
In February, after the announcement that HRCC was to have wards, CEO Sunil Bhalla pledged to turn around the leadership vacuum that had haunted the council chamber for more than a decade, and which had been exposed in a damning report from Municipal Monitor Jude Holt, appointed in July 2022 to oversee council’s governance processes.
This has since been amplified by savage results of two recent Community Satisfaction Surveys.