By DANIELLE GALVIN
CARDINIA Shire Councillor Collin Ross will contest the seat of Gembrook in the upcoming State Election.
Cr Ross was endorsed as the ALP candidate for the seat currently held by Liberal up and comer Brad Battin ahead of the November polls.
“As a parent with a mortgage and a small-business owner, I understand how difficult it can be sometimes to keep on top of the bills,” he said.
“Throughout my time as a Cardinia Shire councillor, I have spoken up for thousands of local families struggling with increased living pressures.
“I believe the best way I can help them now is by supporting a government that will protect and create local jobs.”
Councillors in neighbouring Casey have also been recently endorsed.
Casey Mayor Geoff Ablett was selected as the Liberal candidate for Cranbourne, while Deputy Mayor Amanda Stapledon was chosen as the candidate for Narre Warren North after the pair were formally endorsed by the party’s Administrative Committee due to an insufficient number of eligible liberal delegates to hold a Liberal convention.
Only people who have been local Liberal members for more than two years are eligible to vote.
Both seats are currently held by Labor, with Jude Perera in Cranbourne and Luke Donnellan in Narre Warren North.
“My door is always open to the people I represent and that won’t change,” Cr Stapledon said.
“I am confident that I can continue to represent the people of Casey.”
Cr Ross said he would continue to serve the people of Cardinia on council.
“I believe the experience gained from being a councillor will give me the local knowledge to best connect with voters,” he said.
“As an example, Ken Smith and Russell Broadbent both spent six years as councillors before being elected to state and federal parliament.”
Mr Battin was elected in November 2010, taking the seat from Labor’s Tammy Lobato.
