By Corey Everitt
Cr Jack Kowarzik has turned Pakenham Hills into his stronghold, securing his position for the next four years with no one standing against him to contest the seat.
Pakenham Hills was the only ward to have one nomination, his constituents will not have to vote in October as Cr Kowarzik is automatically elected uncontested.
This isn’t the first time a councillor has seen no contest, with Cr Jeff Springfield re-elected in 2020 uncontested.
Though possibly being left with a bunch of now useless campaign materials, securing his election this early does come as a relief having welcomed his third child with wife Sara less than a month ago,
“I am grateful I can spend more time with Eloise instead of campaigning, she is only three weeks old,” he said.
“I feel very excited to represent my community for another four years, though part of me really wanted to run a campaign for the sake of democracy.
“I know many councils have multiple wards running uncontested, I am glad to see that there is only one here and there are campaigns across the shire.”
It is high stakes to be mayor in an election year. As the face of the council, the election at the end can seem like a direct test of one’s leadership.
Is the unwillingness of another to stand against him a sign of approval for his first term leading the council?
“I hope so, as Mayor I get out there in the community and improve access to residents, so I hope that has resonated in the community, representational democracy works best when people are out there and talking,” he said.
“I’ve had a few lovely people contact me to congratulate and say they were going to vote for me anyway.”
Kowarzik is the first now to be looking beyond the campaign trail to the next four years of Cardinia Shire.
He still has notes of the work he wants to achieve and community concerns to respond to.
Looking to both his ward and across Cardinia, he looks to ‘uplift the standards’ in Pakenham and Officer to continue advocating for the big issues like Cardinia Life.
“I do hear a lot from residents that feel like Pakenham and Officer is being left behind and standards aren’t keeping up with all the works, so I want to focus on improving that whether it’s beautification grants or additional landscaping,” he said.
“Obviously financial sustainability and improving infrastructure, Cardinia Life is a slow burn and we need to appeal to State and Federal Government, I will keep advocating for it.
“For Pakenham Hills ward, I will look for more infrastructure, there are a few vacant council lands here that I think should do with some planning.
“Recently there was a big push for toilets at Eastone Reserve, I would want to advocate for more drinking fountains, things that can make residents enjoy their public spaces more.”
This will be Kowarzik’s second term having been first elected in 2020.
Kowarzik may be secured in the race but he will still be around town, where he can relay issues to the council during the caretaker period.
