A community ticket has entered the mayoral race in a bid to restore “trust and transparency” to Town Hall, declaring the city does not need “career politicos, celebrity ring-ins or cashed-up candidates”.
Greg Bisinella, a business owner and East Melbourne Group president, has announced he will run for lord mayor on the “Voices for Melbourne” ticket, becoming the ninth candidate to join the race.
The ticket, driven by “passionate local residents and business owners”, aims to give a voice to those who live and work in the City of Melbourne.
“This election needs a circuit breaker and we want to see new blood introduced into the council chamber,” Mr Bisinella said.
“We want Voices for Melbourne. My commitment to the City of Melbourne is well known and respected and I … will lead a team that will offer the change that is needed.
“We are not connected to past councils that have been part of the problem and we are not newcomers who do not understand how the city works.”
Mr Bisinella now joins Lord Mayor Nick Reece, former deputy lord mayor Arron Wood, Carlton champion Anthony Koutoufides, Labor’s Phil Reed, the Greens’ Roxane Ingleton, Liberals’ Mariam Riza, pollster Gary Morgan and current councillor Jamal Hakim in the mayoral race, with fewer than 50 days to go.
“Our policies will not be headline-grabbing but will be based on our experience, expertise and understanding of what makes the city tick into the future,” Mr Bisinella said.
His running mate Megan Stevenson is an advocate from Carlton. Mary Masters, a community activist from West Melbourne, is also on the ticket.
They will announce their policies in coming weeks.