Gay mayor for Melbourne?
ANDIE NOONAN
With Melbourne’s longest serving mayor, John So, handing over the reins, Melburnians may be able to elect the city’s first ever gay mayor.
Openly gay Deputy Lord Mayor, Gary Singer, has signalled he’s not ruling out running for the top job, and says he will make a firm decision in the coming weeks.
Lord Mayor John So surprised many last week, ruling himself out of the race for the upcoming Melbourne City Council elections due to be held on the last weekend in November.
In an emotional speech the controversial and larger-than-life So said he would not be contesting a third term in office, having held the position since 2001.
In 2007 Cr Singer had a pivotal role implementing the Relationship Declaration Register, allowing opposite and same-sex couples to formally register their relationship in the inner Melbourne municipality. It remains the first relationship register of its kind in the state of Victoria.
I’m proud of being able to say I put that initiative into action to get it going and to win support, Singer told the Star.
It’s important for the [gay] community because depending on who’s in the seat, things can quickly change.
Singer said he hopes proposed state government legislation to bring in a state-wide relationship register would put us out of business.
The Victorian parliament has already passed the Relationships Bill 2007 which is due to be implemented late this year which will allow all Victorian couples access to register their relationship.
Cr Singer says he remains undecided as to whether he will stand for the top job after a tough four years.
Although taking a leading role in setting up the relationship register in Melbourne, Singer has not been shy of controversy during his time as councillor. This year he has been investigated by Melbourne City Council for his use of ratepayer-funded staff for political purposes to attack fellow councillors.
His use of council cars has also come under fire with a reported $7000 in damage done in less than three years.
In 2005 Singer, a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court, resisted pressure to step away from his post after it was revealed he was found guilty in 1999 for grossly overcharging a client and in another matter was fined for financial misconduct.
Confirmed candidates for the mayoralty to date include the Greens’ Adam Bandt and Labor member Will Fowles.
For the records people, Victoria from December will have partneship registry for same sex and opposite couples from December.
Alister I understand. Sure it is a step in the right direction and maybe it will starr governments into action to provide a more legislative recognition to same sex partnerships. Yes same sex partners need some form of legal recognition of the partnership. Maybe this can be achieved in the formation of a business partnership but I agree it is not that same.
This is one issue but Gary Singer and John so have failed on many fronts. I would not want to vote for someone based on their appearance or sexuality but on their policies and ability to do the job at hand.
Gary would not get elected if he decides to stand. He just does not have the level of support.
The City of Melbourne needs an reformist. someone who will challenge the administration and who will hold them to account. The last thing we need is another money spending donothing populist. The direct election model does not deliver good governance. The Council is too small and most of those elected to Council have no real idea as to what their role should be. Most if not all are tempted to the lurks and perks of office. Trips aboard, numerous social functions and the like. They soon forget or have no time for real issues effecting ratepayers.
John So reigned over the economic boom years, With the economy facing a bleak future the next four years will be much tougher then the previous eight. Expenditure will have to be cut or the City Council will have to raise rates which will in turn have a negative effect on small business and residents a like. There is more to a city then just sex in the city. Ideally the State Government should take the lad and initiate a serious review of the Cities boundaries and representative model.Melbourne is too small and the Councillors to few in number. A greater Melbourne should be on the governments agenda. Cr Clark tried to raise this issue but the State Government was not prepared to take the big issues on board. Melbourne City Council is the only Council that is not subject to a regular representative review. WHY?
Andrew Heslop would be a better candidate.
Sydney does it better anyways
Anthony, I’m not sure how the relationships register will leave the City open to “allegations of negligence and deception”. I’ve used it, and I knew exactly what it meant. I don’t think anyone goes in to Town Hall to sign on to the register without being clear as to what it means.
Yikes! A very chequered history…and that’s before the campaign begins!
The relationship register is a nice idea BUT it does not have any legal status and may in fact have a negative impact leaving the City of Melbourne open to allegations of negligence and deception.
The City of Melbourne is in a financial quandary following John So poor fiscal management to which Garry Singer must also share responsibility.
John So and his team went on a irresponsible spending spree and blowout in Council costs.
Garry Singer’s financial management took a serious blow when he was found by the law Institute of Victoria to have acted unprofessionally in the management of trust funds related to his professional practice
John So spent the proceeds of the Councils asserts sell-off and now the city is left to pickup the pieces.
It would appear that John So’s team is very much fragmented.
Kevin Louey, John’s Geoff Staff is looking at running with failed Lord Mayor contestant Peter McMullin.
Catherine Ng, John So’s number one Council candidate is looking at running independently for the Lord Mayors job.
Cr Wilson, another member of John So’s team is running with ALP member Will Fowles
The odds are that the only person returned to the City Council will be Fiona Snedden daughter of former Liberal Leader Billy Snedden.