Poll shake-up

By Paul Dunlop
THREE new councillors were elected to Cardinia Shire Council in a dramatic election shake-up on Saturday.
Brett Owen, Ed Chatwin and Bill Pearson replace former mayor Garry Runge, Helen Ward and Leonora Cox on the seven-member council.
Cr Bill Ronald won a massive vote of support to retain his seat while Crs Kate Lempriere, Graeme Legge and Doug Hamilton were also re-elected.
The new council will meet next Monday to elect a mayor with Cr Ronald the favourite for the job.
The long-serving councillor said he was overwhelmed by his landslide victory in the Central Ward where he topped the poll with more than 4500 first preference votes.
Cr Ronald said the community had turned on what it perceived was a political campaign to discredit him that has included an ongoing Local Government Victoria investigation into alleged breaches by Cr Ronald of the Local Government Act.
“The attacks on me and my family over the past two and a half years have been unbearable so this is just a sensational feeling to be getting this vote of support from the community,” Cr Ronald said.
“It’s a great day.”
Mr Runge declined to comment on the poll.
Cr Owen and Cr Lempriere join Cr Ronald in the three-member Central Ward, which takes in the growth corridor area of Pakenham, Officer and Beaconsfield.
Cr Lempriere is the only woman on the seven-member council while at 28, Cr Owen is the youngest councillor. He follows in the footsteps of his father Ted, a long-serving councillor with the Pakenham, Berwick and Cardinia Shires.
Cr Hamilton won a two-way contest in the Port Ward while Cr Pearson was a clear winner in the Bunyip Ward.
Crs Graeme Legge and Ed Chatwin represent the Ranges Ward.
Cr Ronald said there was a new feeling of optimism in the community following the elections.
Councillors were sworn in at a public function at the Cardinia Shire chambers in Henty Way on Monday evening.