This October’s postal elections highlight a strong community presence. AFL legend Anthony Koutoufides aims for Melbourne’s Lord Mayor, while Helen Politis garners local support in the Harmony Ward among the candidates
More than 60 Greek Australians have nominated themselves to serve in Victoria’s local councils, all hoping to contribute to their local community.
Elections will be held by post this October for all councils except Moira Shire Council.
Merri-Bek boasts the most Greek candidates with at least seven putting their hand up, which doesn’t come as a surprise given the council oversees suburbs like Brunswick and Coburg, which have a rich history in the Greek community in Melbourne.
It is there that local Labor leaders have rallied behind Helen Politis as she launches her bid for a seat in the Harmony Ward, pledging to prioritise community needs, sports facilities, and essential services. In Darebin there is Cr Emily Dimitriadis for South East Ward and Vasilios Tsalkos for North Central Ward, both Labor.
Dimitriadis told Neos Kosmos, they are both: “Deeply committed to ensuring council services reach all the residents.”
In the CBD for the mayoral race, AFL great Anthony Koutoufides has been making headlines. Koutoufides is running as an independent, and he has a full agenda hoping to make the city ‘great again’.
Current Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Nick Reece may not be Greek, but is one at heart, as his wife is Greek and their kids are growing up as Greek Australians.
Also challenging for the Melbourne mayoral role is candidate Jamal Hakim, who has Greek Esther Anatolitis as his Deputy, an advocate for arts.
Neos Kosmos will be reaching out to other candidates as we approach the elections.
Cr Tasa Damante, a Pontian Greek is running in the Wicklow Ward, for Maroondah City Council and says she wants to “create an affordable, liveable, family-friendly, and vibrant community that provides opportunities for everyone.”
“I’ll work to deliver the new Croydon Community Wellbeing Precinct and Croydon Main Street enhancement project, and fight to upgrade and keep the Maroondah Hospital in Maroondah”, Cr Damante said.
“Wicklow ward, which covers the suburb of Croydon, is a very young area, with many young families and young adults, so I’m committed to unlocking opportunities for them around childcare, education, healthcare, and employment – the things residents are telling me they need amid this cost-of-living crunch”.
List of Hellenic background candidates:
Ballarat
Phillip Lincoln Yordonopulo (Golden Point Ward)
Banyule
William Roumeliotis (Bakewell Ward)
Michelle Giovas (Sherbourne Ward)
Bayside
Paras Georgoulos (Dendy Ward)
Anastasia Sagris-Desmond (Ivison Ward)
Jerry Soldatos (Bleazby Ward)
Boroondara
Chris Pattas (Maranoa Ward)
Nick Stavrou (Studley Ward)
Brimbank
Kristian Raspa (Albanvale Ward)
Georgina Papafotiou (Copernicus Ward)
Stefan Christopher Koroneos (Copernicus Ward)
Aristea Havelas (Copernicus Ward)
Virginia Tachos (Horseshoe Bend Ward)
Tayla Vorgiatzidis (Mount Derrimut Ward)
Casey
Rex Lazaros (Casuarina Ward)
Darebin
Vasilios Tsalkos (North West Ward)
Emily Dimitriadis (South East Ward)
Elias Tsigaras (South East Ward)
Leon Zembekis (West Ward)
Glen Eira
Nick Palamaras (Mallanbool Ward)
Greater Geelong
Andrew Katos (Deakin Ward)
Hobsons Bay
Alexandra Damasoliotis (Altona North Ward)
Hume
John Karagiannidis (Jacksons Hill Ward)
Joseph Haweil (Woodlands Ward)
Kingston
Tony Athanasopoulos (Bunjil Ward)
Georgia Erevnidis (Wattle Ward)
Manningham
Dimitrios Tafidis (Bolin Ward)
Amanda Paliouras (Ruffey Ward)
Jim Grivas (Ruffey Ward)
Maribyrnong
Terri Soumilas (Saltwater Ward)
Maroondah City Council
Cr Tasa Damante (Wicklow Ward)
Melbourne
Leadership team candidates
Anthony Koutofides (Team Kouta)
Esther Anatolitis (Team Hakim – Resident Independents)
Councillors
Nicolas Paul Zervos (Team Wood)
Sophy Galbally née Gyftopoulos (Team Elvis Martin)
Merri-bek
Lambros Tapinos (Brunswick West Ward)
Angelica Panopoulos (Harmony Park Ward)
Helen Politis (Harmony Park Ward)
Kosta Rologas (Randazzo Ward)
Voula Paraskevi Allimonos (Randazzo Ward)
Katerine Theodosis (Westbreen Ward)
Helen Pavlidis-Mihalakos (Westbreen Ward)
Monash
Arthur Athanasopoulos (Banika Ward)
Bill Dayandas (Scothmans Creek Ward)
Paul Klisaris (Wellington Ward)
Moonee Valley
Paula Theocharides (Canning Ward)
Peter Vasilogiannacopoulos (Queens Park Ward)
Maroondah
Suzy Stojanovic (McAlpin Ward)
Moyne
Jim Doukas (Unsubdivided council)
Nillumbik
Terry Mitropoulos (Swipers Ward)
Andrew Bakos (Edendale Ward)
Stonnington
Jami Klisaris (Malvern Valley Ward)
Steve Stefanopoulos (Wattletree Ward)
Swan Hill
Jana Sarantis (Unsubdivided council)
Warrnambool
Peter Sycopoulis (Central Ward)
Wellington
Christos Iliopoulos (Northern Ward)
Whitehorse
George Manos (Terrara Ward)
Whittlesea
Nicholas Hajichristou (Lalor Ward)
Mary Krassos (North Ward)
Andrew Filippopoulos (South Morang Ward)
George Stavrakis (Thomastown Ward)
Yarra
Michael Gylnatsis (Hoddle Ward)
Peter Razos (Lennox Ward)