By Alesha Capone
A father and son from the west are contesting this month’s council elections in two different municipalities.
Graham McGuire, who served as a councillor and mayor of Williamstown in the eighties and nineties, is standing in the Wetlands ward of Hobsons Bay.
His son, Shannon McGuire, is a nominee in Wyndham’s Chaffey ward. Both men are running as independent candidates.
Graham, a semi-retired lawyer who lives in Seabrook, said he believed Hobsons Bay council should allocate more funding to the Wetlands ward.
“The amount of money being spent here, compared to what’s being spent elsewhere, is chicken poo,” he said.
“I’m a person who does believe in the 3R’s – roads, rates and rubbish.”
Graham said that there were “too many officers” working at council, making it difficult for residents to engage in direct communication with councillors.
“Councillors are there to help the community and I feel that isn’t happening,” he said.
Graham said that when he was on Williamstown council in the eighties and nineties, he made his home address and phone number available to members of the public, and he was prepared to do so again if he was re-elected.
“I enjoyed my time on council, you get to meet and help so many people,” he said.
Shannon said that he remembered helping his father mail out how-to-vote cards in the eighties.
Shannon, a former president of the Tarneit North Resident’s Association, said they were contesting the elections out of a desire “to contribute to the community”.
“You have to vote for what the community wants, which might not necessarily be what you want,” Shannon said.
“I don’t believe in party politics across the board or on council.”
He said Wyndham’s growth, encouraging different multicultural groups to work together, roads, public transport advocacy and domestic violence were all important issues facing the area.
Shannon said he did not want to make any pre-election promises he would not be able to keep.
“If elected, I will be part of a team of 11 – I’m not going to promise something I can’t deliver, we all have to agree and I’m only one of 11,” he said.
