Financial clout for Mulino

By Lia Bichel
CASEY councillor Daniel Mulino made a shock exit from the council last week.
Mr Mulino, the former Edrington Ward councillor, said he decided to resign from the council to take on a new role as advisor on the financial service sector for Federal MP and Financial Services Minister Bill Shorten.
“I am looking forward to working in policy development. It has been a long standing interest and I think it is critical to the health of the national economy,” he said.
“I have enjoyed my time on council and will miss working with the community. I worked with the Harkaway residents group, the Residents, Ratepayers and Friends of Berwick Village group, sporting groups and a range of organisations.”
The news came as a shock to fellow councillors, who bid him farewell and wished him the best of luck for the future.
“We are all shocked, but not surprised,” Councillor Wayne Smith said.
“When you first meet him you know he will go a long way.”
Cr Geoff Ablett agreed.
“I always felt his destiny would be in elite policy making.”
City of Casey CEO Mike Tyler said Mr Mulino’s resignation meant it was “a very sad day for Casey.”
The Victorian Electoral Commission said the position will be filled through a countback of votes from the November 2008 general election, at 11am on Monday 20 December.
“Countbacks are used to fill vacancies in multi-councillor wards and unsubdivided municipalities if a councillor resigns or is ineligible to hold office,” Victorian Electoral Commission returning officer David Triplow said.
“Those candidates who were unsuccessful at the general election and are still eligible to be elected will be included in the countback.”
Former Edrington Ward councillor Mick Morland said he did not believe he was in the running to fill Mr Mulino’s shoes and has not ruled out re-joining the council.
“I sat on it for 17 and a half years,” he said.
“What happens happens. If they ring me up, I would consider it – but I will wait for the phone call to come first.”