Big names line up for council bids

West Coast Eagles’ inaugural coach, Greens WA’s former state secretary and a three-term state representative are among a list of notables running at next month’s council elections.

Nominations to run for council positions across all Western Australia’s councils closed at 4pm yesterday.

Some campaigns, including the race for mayor in City of Fremantle, will be heavily contested, with councillor Hannah Fitzhardinge in a five-way race that includes former state representative Adele Carles and retired WAFL player Rod Grljusich.

Others, such as the race for Town of East Fremantle’s mayoralty, will be quieter fare, with two-term incumbent Jim O’Neill running uncontested for the job.

Business News reported earlier this week that Tony Krsticevic, who held the state electorate of Carine from 2008 to 2021, was in the running for a council position in Stirling representing an array of beachside suburbs stretching from Scarborough to Watermans Bay.

Other notable names to put their hand up include former West Coast Eagles coach and Department of Sports director general Ron Alexander, who is seeking to represent Mount Hawthorn and North Perth at the Town of Vincent, and Chilla Bulbeck, a former Greens secretary running for council in Cottesloe.

WAFL players are well represented across inner-metropolitan council races, with retired Swan Districts co-captain Tallan Ames running for council in Town of Bassendean and Sandover Medal winner John Parkinson in Town of Claremont.

Journalists, meanwhile, feature heavily in regional council elections, including with Daniel Wilkins in City of Mandurah, Ian Beeck in City of Albany and Michael Southwell (formerly president of the Shire of Capel) in Bunbury.

City of Perth, which will hold elections for four of its eight council seats, has also attracted some major names, including former suspended councillor Steve Hasluck and former mayoral candidate Bruce Reynolds.

Brent Fleeton, Liam Gobbert, Viktor Ko and Clyde Bevan will recontest their positions on council.

Local government elections will be held on October 16.