Tag: election campaign

Mayoral Inauguration

Posted on by alex

I would like to sincerely thank my colleagues for their support and confidence in me as we enter the 2010 Council Year and I begin my term as the Mayor of Maroondah.

The changeover of the Mayor from Cr. Peter Gurr to myself
The changeover of the Mayor from Cr. Peter Gurr to myself

It is indeed an honour and a privilege to be able to serve with such distinguished colleagues, all of whom have such a wide range of skills and experience. I look forward to this year as we strive to deliver the very best for the Maroondah community. We need to harness the collective experiences and skills of the people around this table and our community as we consider the decisions we will make in the oncoming year and beyond.

The challenge we need to set ourselves is to ensure that the decisions we make today are not regretted by future generations or future councils. We need to ensure that the decisions we make today are the ones that ensure the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of our community into the future. We must not leave a legacy where in people in 10 or 20 years or beyond wonder about the choices we made today.

Tomorrow is the International Day for People with Disabilities and this serves as a reminder of the need to create a society where everyone can fully participate in civic, commercial, recreational and residential opportunities.

We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to ensure that we get things right with the transformation of Ringwood into a vibrant, sustainable and accessible urban centre. I look forward to working with all levels of government to achieve this vision. Our community expects government to work in cooperation so that we can achieve the best outcomes for our municipality. It is through a collective vision that we can harness the full potential of governments working together to achieve positive outcomes for the community.

Alex delivering his acceptance speech for the 2010 Mayoral Year
Alex delivering his acceptance speech for the 2010 Mayoral Year

I’ve lived in Ringwood since I was two years old, so my memories of growing up are centred around Ringwood and Maroondah, to be in a position where we can shape the future is one that is humbling and I want to ensure that our future generations respect the decisions that we make today.

While the transformation of Ringwood is obviously an exciting project, the City of Maroondah covers many suburbs and we need to ensure that all of our communities and their aspirations are heard and considered.

We also need to be mindful of the many community organisations that are in need of additional accommodation within Maroondah. The strength of a municipality can be measured by the vibrancy of the community organisations within it and we need to ensure that our actions take into account the need for community organisations to grow and develop so they continue to meet the needs of our municipality.

I am truly appreciative of the many community organisations that are present this evening, many of you have been with me during the highs and lows of council and I thank you for your ongoing support and for celebrating that occasion with us. Likewise, I extend my ongoing appreciation to my family who are here tonight and have stood by me during election campaigns and years of council. While the experience of being on council has been extremely positive, there have been times where it has been difficult; and it has been this support from my colleagues, family and the community that has kept me going.

Alex being inaugurated as the Mayor on the 2nd of December 2009
Alex being inaugurated as the Mayor on the 2nd of December 2009

Approximately a fortnight ago the Ringwood Miners Cottage was tragically destroyed by vandals. We need to stop and reflect on the values of our community and work towards creating a civic pride that collectively demonstrates that such malicious destruction will not be tolerated.

We can only do this if we discuss the values that the Maroondah community holds true and I ask each of us to reflect on what it means to live within this municipality. We need to begin a narrative and a discussion about these values and ensure that we hold these principles true to ourselves and to others. I ask each of you to let me know how you would describe the values of Maroondah.

Many people know about my passion for technology. Let us embrace new technologies to lead this discussion and to encourage people to contribute to our community. Please send me your thoughts on Twitter, Facebook, my website or via phone.

These values will not be defined overnight but we should start this discussion and lead in creating this narrative and ensuring we have an inclusive and welcoming society.

Alex delivering his inauguration speech as Mayor on the 2nd of December 2009
Alex delivering his inauguration speech as Mayor on the 2nd of December 2009

In coming weeks I will be asking my colleagues to discuss their visions for Maroondah over the next twelve months. I want to ensure that we have a council that is focused on outcomes and on the wellbeing of our community.

I look forward to achieving these outcomes with my colleagues, as well as the corporate management team and staff of this council.

In closing I would like to thank our outgoing Mayor Peter Gurr for serving the City as Mayor over the past twelve months. I look forward to the future and I look forward to working in harmony with my colleagues, staff and the community as we plan and deliver for the future.

We are going to continue making a difference!

Posted on by alex

It is a great honour to declare that I have been re-elected as a councillor for the City of Maroondah representing the residents, ratepayers, community groups and businesses of the new Mullum Ward.

I am incredibly humbled to have received such strong support from the the Mullum community, where I received over 20% of the primary vote. I pledge to continue making a difference and to represent the Mullum Ward to create a municipality that is sustainable, accessible and underpinned through a council that is accountable to the public.

I pay my respects to both Jo-anne Taylor and Maureen Naylor, both of whom came close but unfortunately were not returned. Jo-anne and Maureen were both excellent councillors and two people that have served the community in an exceptional capacity. I will miss both Maureen and Jo-anne, they were a great source of support and I wish them both well. While Maureen, after serving both the Croydon and Maroondah Councils, may be looking forward to her retirement, Jo-anne clearly has much to offer the community and I do expect to see her involved in community causes.

When I was first elected in 2005 I was one lone voice, Maureen and Jo-anne saw the work I was undertaking and become very supportive. It is their support that has helped me continue to represent Maroondah and I give my commitment that this dedication will continue.

It is also unfortunate that Peter Feeney was not elected, after missing out by approximately 100 votes. Peter is someone I respect deeply and a person who would have made an incredible contribution to council. While Peter is obviously disappointed, I am certain he will continue to represent the community in his own capacity. Even though Maroondah may have missed out on council representation by Peter Feeney, I am positive he will continue to contribute to the betterment of the community as he has done so for many years.

Adam Pepper would have also made a wonderful contribution to Maroondah and I commend Adam on his integrity and commitment to conducting a dignified campaign. Adam has much to offer and I am certain he will continue to be heavily involved within the community.

I will be sharing the Mullum Ward with Nora Lamont and Ann Fraser. Nora is someone who will make Maroondah a better place and I look forward to working with her. I am certain that Nora and I will make a constructive and productive team and that together we will be making a difference.

Ann Fraser and I have had our differences but one must acknowledge her ongoing work in the community and the fact that she has never given up. After several attempts, Ann has been elected onto council and I am hopeful that we will be able to work together on behalf of the Mullum community.

I must also pay tribute to outgoing Mayor and Councillor Tony Dib, while Tony and I may not have always agreed, there was mutual respect and I do wish him well in his future endeavours.

There are three new faces in Maroondah within the other council wards, Rob Steane, Michael MacDonald and Paul MacDonald and I am certain each of them are committed to the Maroondah community. While I have spoken to each of them during the election period, I look forward to getting to know the three new faces onto Maroondah Council and to working with them.

Les Willmott, Peter Gurr and Natalie Thomas were each returned and while there were divisions in the previous term of council, I offer a commitment to conciliation and hope that these differences can be overcome. While there should be differing opinions and fearless debate, we should be working united as a team and I hope that there is a mutual commitment to working together for the benefit of the City of Maroondah.

Likewise I offer a genuine commitment to conciliation to my opponents, including Mary-Anne Lowe. While Mary-Anne and I have had our battles, an election defeat is disappointing for anyone and I do genuinely wish her well. Each of the candidates should feel proud that they chose to nominate for council and endure the stress and mixed emotions that result from an election campaign and they do deserve to be commended for this effort.

Thank you to the many people who assisted me throughout the campaign and over the last three years. It has been your support that has delivered such a compelling result. I look forward to continuing to work with the individuals and community groups that I have met and I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to contact me a councillor and as a candidate.

I once again thank the one in five residents that voted directly for me in this election. I scored the highest primary vote within the whole of Maroondah and I thank you for having confidence in my abilities and my commitment to continue making a difference. I will continue to represent all people within the community and I am honoured to have received such a compelling mandate in this election.

I thank you for providing me with the honour and privilege to represent the Mullum Ward and Maroondah for the next four years.

Alex Makin
Councillor for the Mullum Ward

Maroondah Journal: legal wrangle

Posted on by alex

As the local council elections enter their final week, the Maroondah Journal has reported on the inaccurate claims made by Mary-Anne Lowe regarding my mobile phone usage.

Last Thursday, Cr Alex Makin’s solicitor sent a notice of intent to take legal action against Mullum candidate Mary-Anne Lowe, concerning an advertisement she placed in the Journal.

The action is in regard to false and inaccurate claims made over my mobile phone usage by Mary-Anne Lowe.

“While it is true that my mobile phone expenses are higher than the other councillors in Maroondah, the expenses are not near the figures that have been claimed,” he said.

One of the key roles in being a local councillor is connecting people into our community and working with local residents to secure results. Unfortunately some of my opponents seem to think that the community is unimportant and would rather rely on running mates and preference deals to secure election.

“I am hoping she will see the errors of her ways. If she publicly apologies, that’ll be the end of it,” Cr Makin said.

While there is the option of potential legal action, my first preference is to receive an apology in regard to the false claims that have been made.

Maroondah Leader: phone bill flak over poll flyer

Posted on by alex

The Maroondah Leader has reported on the false claims about my mobile phone usage, which were were included on a flyer produced by another Mullum Ward candidate.

Mullum Ward council candidate Alex Makin has threatened legal action against a rival for making exaggerated claims about his mobile phone use.

Rather than produce an accurate depiction of my mobile phone usage, the candidate simply chose to extrapolate incorrect figures based on a request that only asked for my phone usage during a six month period.

“My phone bill is significantly lower than the $10,000 Mary-Anne has calculated,” Cr Makin said. “One of the key roles as a councillor is to talk to the community and I call everyone back.”

In particular, copies of the flyer were left at the Maroondah Council Chambers violating the neutrality of the council building. Council property is owned by residents and ratepayers and therefore is not to be used for electioneering purposes.

Cr Makin said Ms Lowe had left copies of the flyer at the council chambers and that he had lodged a complaint with the Victorian Electoral Commission.

It is unfortunate that a candidate would choose to perpetuate false claims and hold little regard for local governance by violating the neutrality of council property. I have referred this matter to the Victorian Electoral Commission so that it can be properly investigated.

The Greens support making a difference

Posted on by alex

As an independent councillor and candidate, I aim to work constructively with all political parties and individuals to deliver better outcomes for our community. The bi-partisan agreement to abolish zone three is an example of this, as is the first stage of funding that was announced for Ringwood Station and much needed public transport improvements.

It has unfortunately been reported that Adam Pepper, the Greens Candidate for Mullum, was instructing supporters not to preference me in the council elections. I am pleased to state that this has been corrected and Adam has written the following letter to clarify this:

Dear Sir/Madam,

In the current election campaign candidates have raised issues such as who is a genuine candidate, mobile phone use and the state of our footpaths. While these issues are important and need to be addressed over time, I believe one issue should stand out for all candidates over the next 4 years.

Last night I attended the Eastern Region Climate Forum where Dr David Spratt spoke of the urgency for all levels of Government to work towards avoiding dangerous climate change, where the tipping point may only be years away. He urged all of us to become leaders in attempting to stop dangerous climate change. A recent article in the Education Age (17/11) highlighted the reluctance of a large percentage of young people to make changes that will improve the sustainability of of society. Our society needs young leaders on this issue.

Alex Makin is one of the few candidates with a track record of attempting to take action on climate issues. People concerned about climate change should preference towards him and support him when he is elected.

Local Government can play a vital role in addressing dangerous climate change, and I hope that candidates who are willing to be leaders on this issue are elected as I have tried to support them through my official preference list.

Sincerely

Adam Pepper
Australian Greens Candidate for Mullum Ward
thedrpepper@bigpond.com
0402083469

The relationships I have with individuals and political parties is crucial in delivering outcomes that are making a difference to our community. I appreciate the constructive relationship I have with the Greens and for their acknowledgement of my work in reducing greenhouse emissions and acting on climate change.

Adam Pepper, who is the only party candidate that is upfront about his political affiliations, has run a dignified campaign and I applaud him for his stance on climate change and local issues.

Maroondah Journal: Councillor answers the call

Posted on by alex

Any resident, community group, ratepayer or business that has contacted me over the past three years, will have noticed that I promptly return calls and do not abruptly rush people who make the effort to contact me about their concerns.

Unfortunately one of the other candidates running in Mullum Ward has decided to attack me over my council mobile phone usage. This candidate has no connection with the community and is instead relying on the preferences of dummy candidates to help her get elected.

“My bill is typically higher than the others because it shows the volume of work I do for the council,” Cr Makin said. “I also get back to people who leave messages. There are a lot of councillors who don’t return calls and as a result I get a lot of frustrated people calling me.”

I use a separate mobile for personal use and my personal mobile phone, 0409 136 213, is the number I am using during the election period to ensure that council equipment is not being used for electoral purposes. In addition, since I have always been employed within small business, I do not have the luxury of using work phones for council purposes.

Many of Maroondah’s residents are reluctant to ring mobiles and often I will provide the opportunity for people; such as pensioners, senior citizens and people with disabilities, the option of calling them back so that they do not face the burden of mobile call costs.

Councillors need to be accessible to the community and take the time to listen to people. Baseless attacks by candidates who have a lack of community involvement, unfortunately demonstrates yet another low within this council election.

Maroondah Journal: 'Get tough' on noise breach

Posted on by alex

Alongside the redevelopment of Ringwood Station, the relocation of North Ringwood Community House and the need for greater sustainability and accessibility, is the issue of ongoing noise violations that spoils the amenity of residents along and near Heatherdale Road.

The Maroondah Journal has reported on the ongoing action against CMA Recycling (Victoria) over amenity and noise violations. Maroondah has applied for an enforcement order at VCAT to comply with council’s planning scheme and the EPA has confirmed that CMA is in breach of acceptable noise limits.

Incumbent councillor Alex Makin said he had put pressure on CMA with two successful prosecutions under the Health Act and making the EPA aware of the issues. “I certainly agree that the council needs greater powers to enforce compliance of CMA so I will be pushing the council to change the planning definition of CMA’s activities so we can enforce conditions on the site.”

While the article quoted a number of other candidates, all of whom wanted greater powers but failed to state how they would address the problems experienced by Heatherdale residents.

Over the past three years I been have making a difference for the Heatherdale community through the two successful prosecutions against amenity breaching and further action to hold rogue operators accountable for their actions.

Maroondah Journal: Anger at 'dummy' website – 'Close site or else!'

Posted on by alex

The Maroondah Journal has reported on the launch of www.genuinecandidates.com, a website that has been established to assist the community with identifying the genuine candidates in the upcoming Maroondah City Council elections.

Cr Makin said the website was a source of information before an election. “It began as members of the community were concerned with candidates’ links to developers and dummy candidates. It’s there to educate the public on an ongoing trend that subverts democracy.”

The website identifies candidates that have been actively involved within local community groups and are not aligned with developers or the practice of using dummy candidates. A dummy candidate is where someone runs for council simply to direct preferences to another candidate.

A number of candidates were not included on the website since they were unable to explain why they were receiving preferences without reciprocating. As an example there are candidates who receive second preferences from a number of candidates without returning similar preferences. This is a clear sign of a candidate that uses dummy candidates.

Perhaps unsurprisingly some non-genuine candidates have protested over the establishment of the website and are trying to close it down. Fortunately the members of the community who established the site will not give to to these non-genuine candidates.

I strongly urge the community to examine the preferences of each candidate to avoid those that are using dummy candidates and subverting local democracy. For further information please visit www.genuinecandidates.com.

Media Release: No show candidates proves lack of commitment

Posted on by alex

Alex Makin, a candidate for the Mullum Ward has slammed the council candidates who failed to attend a community forum at North Ringwood Community House.

“It is bitterly disappointing that a council candidate would choose to ignore a designated candidates’ forum”, Alex Makin, candidate for the Mullum Ward said. “This lack of attendance clearly demonstrates that some candidates lack the genuineness and sincerity required for council.”

The candidates’ forum was held at North Ringwood Community House on Wednesday the 5th of November. Several topics were discussed, including the relocation of North Ringwood Community House, Ringwood Station and climate change.

The forum was attended by Alex Makin, Jo-anne Taylor, Peter Feeney and Nora Lamont. Ann Fraser, Mary-anne Lowe, Sam Nahoum, Samantha Marks, Sherlye Griffiths and Tony Dib all failed to attend.

“I applaud the candidates that took the time to attend the forum as this demonstrates that they are sincere about standing for council. I urge the community to support a candidate that speaks to their local community and not someone that hides away and is a no show for public events”, Cr. Makin concluded.

About Alex Makin:

Alex Makin was elected in November 2005 as the Councillor for Loughnan’s Hill ward in the City of Maroondah. Alex, currently the youngest councillor elected within the history of the City of Maroondah, is involved with the Maroondah Citizens Advice Bureau, Croydon Conservation Society, the Ringwood Spiders Football Club, North Ringwood Community House, Eastern Volunteers and the Disabilities Action Group. Alex has a regularly updated website and blog at www.alexmakin.com.au.

ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES: ALEX MAKIN ON 0409 136 213

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Media Release: United call to support genuine candidates

Posted on by alex

Genuine candidates in the Maroondah City Council elections have formed www.genuinecandidates.com amid growing concern over candidates aligned with developers or resorting to the use of ‘dummy candidates’

“The candidates featured on the website do not have running mates and are not aligned with the influx of developer interests”, Alex Makin, candidate for the Mullum Ward said. “The purpose of the website is not to favour one individual above the other but to demonstrate the choice that the community has when casting their vote.”

Elections in Maroondah are conducted via postal ballot, which will arrive between the 12th and 14th of November. Ballots must be returned by 6:00pm on the 29th of November.

“Local democracy suffers when we have candidates that are standing simply to act as feeders for other candidates. The community has a right to know who those feeders are, what each candidate stands for and the depth of their involvement in the community”, Cr. Makin said. “I urge the community to check the community involvement of each candidate before casting their vote.”

“Please visit www.genuinecandidates.com and make an informed choice this election. While I actively seek your vote, should you not wish to allocate your first preference to me, then please vote only for another genuine candidate”, Cr. Makin concluded.

About Alex Makin:

Alex Makin was elected in November 2005 as the Councillor for Loughnan’s Hill ward in the City of Maroondah. Alex, currently the youngest councillor elected within the history of the City of Maroondah, is involved with the Maroondah Citizens Advice Bureau, Croydon Conservation Society, the Ringwood Spiders Football Club, North Ringwood Community House, Eastern Volunteers and the Disabilities Action Group. Alex has a regularly updated website and blog at www.alexmakin.com.au.

ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES: ALEX MAKIN ON 0409 136 213

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