Uncontested wards in next month’s local government elections is an indication that incumbents have proven their worth as civic representatives, according to the chief of the peak body for Victorian councils.
The Robinvale Ward in the Swan Hill Rural City Council will be uncontested, with deputy mayor John Katis the only candidate.
Cr Katis told The Guardian last week that the distance from Swan Hill could have been a factor, but was confident the job he had done for more than 20 years was enough for him not to be challenged.
Across Victoria’s 78 councils, 2135 candidates will run in the October 22 elections, an increase of 6.5 per cent since the last elections in 2012 and a record.
At the 2012 poll, 18 candidates contested the Swan Hill municipality.
To read more about this story, grab a copy of today’s Guardian (September 26).
