Court dismisses tampering claims

By Tania Martin
MELBOURNE Magistrates’ Court last week dismissed election tampering claims levelled at former Shire of Yarra Ranges mayor Tim Heenan.
Billanook Ward candidate Ian Harris filed a complaint against the Victorian Electoral Commission following last year’s election.
The Mt Evelyn man said the VEC made mistakes when counting votes and also made several claims against Cr Heenan.
Mr Harris said he should have received a larger portion of the first-preference votes and Cr Heenan had tried to sabotage his campaign.
He received 688 votes to Cr Heenan’s first preference majority 3652.
In a statement read out to the court, Mr Harris also alleged Cr Heenan had been stalking him.
But the case was dismissed on Monday 6 April after Mr Harris failed to appear.
Cr Heenan told the court the matter had gone on long enough.
The case had previously been adjourned on Thursday 5 February at Mr Harris’ request.
The VEC is still investigating further accusations from Mr Harris against Cr Heenan.
He said Cr Heenan tried to bribe him to pull out of the election race.
Mr Harris told the Mail he met with Cr Heenan at Morrison Café in Mt Evelyn on 25 October and offered him an all-expenses-paid holiday to withdraw.