PROSPECTIVE candidates for Bunbury’s council elections have a week from this Thursday to get their official nominations in before they kick off a voting campaign.
The Bunbury Mail understands there are six vacancies up for grabs and five out of six current councillors intend to run for their position again.
Former Mayor David Smith plans to put his hand up for council along with new faces Monique Warnock, Joel McGuiness and Findlay Osborn.
City of Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan said the election would include a referendum seeking electors’ views to support or not support a reduction in councillor positions from 12 to eight.
“I am confident we will attract a diversity of gender, cultural backgrounds, age and experiences keen to join a proactive council absolutely committed to securing benefits for our community,” Mr Brennan said.
“We can’t afford to stand still or go backwards.”
Local government minister Tony Simpson said women comprised 51 per cent of the state's population and WA had the fastest growing percentage of young people in Australia, yet both groups were significantly under-represented at a local level.
“Not only have we seen a steady decline in voter participation at local government elections in recent years, but very low numbers of women and young people are standing for council,” Mr Simpson said.
“In the 2013 local government elections, only 30 per cent of councillor candidates were women, even though they are very active in their local communities, particularly as volunteers.”
Mr Simpson also said voter participation in council elections had decreased from 33 per cent in 2009 to 27 per cent in 2013.
Local government elections will be held on October 17, 2015. Candidates have from September 3 to 10 to lodge a nomination.
