Council elections: Information session for potential candidates
Published on 03 August 2020
The Victorian Local Governance Association will host a virtual information session for potential Horsham Rural City Council election candidates on Wednesday.
Nominations for the October elections will open in September, with Australian citizens at least 18 years of age or older on 24 October 2020, and a registered voter in the HRCC municipality, eligible to stand.
Council Chief Executive Officer Sunil Bhalla said residents passionate about leadership and creating a positive future were encouraged to consider standing for council.
“This is an opportunity to set the direction for a creative and positive future for our region,” Mr Bhalla said.
“Being a Councillor requires commitment, responsibility and accountability. It provides the opportunity to lead the community and bring new and fresh ideas that will benefit all residents into the future.
“The Wimmera is undergoing change through innovative agriculture, nature based tourism and creative infrastructure. It is an exciting time to be involved in transitioning our region to a more diverse economy that supports job creation and liveability going forward.
“If you can see yourself being part of a positive future focused team, I encourage you to attend the upcoming candidate information session and find out more,” he said.
Wednesday’s 90-minute session will start at 5.30pm and provide prospective election candidates with information about:
- The role and purpose of local government
- The new Local Government Act 2020
- Introduction to your Council and information on the municipal area
- Roles, responsibilities and expectations of a Councillor
- The experience of being a Councillor
- The electoral process and campaigning, including key dates and information provided by the Victorian Electoral Commission.
“The best way to predict our future is to create it,” Mr Bhalla said.
“Whether you are a stay at home parent, university student, farmer, retail store owner or a member of a community organisation, you do not need any specific qualifications or an understanding of local government to take part in this session.
“All you need is a healthy community-minded attitude and a desire to find out more about nominating as a candidate for the upcoming council elections.”
Register for the information session
“Potential candidates also need to undertake mandatory Local Government Candidate Training before nominations open in September, with details to be available the week of Monday, 3 August,” Mr Bhalla said.