By Laura Michell
Former Wyndham councillor Intaj Khan has failed in his bid to become deputy lord mayor of the City of Melbourne.
Mr Khan was contesting the City of Melbourne election as part of ‘Team Kouta’ led by former Carlton great Anthony Koutoufides.
The pair polled 12.91 per cent of first preference votes – the fourth highest – but failed to overtake incumbent Lord Mayor Nick Reece and Deputy Lord Mayor candidate and incumbent City of Melbourne councillor Roshena Campbell on preferences.
Mr Khan said he thought Team Kouta was “really in the race to win”, but preferences didn’t flow the way the team thought they would.
He also said team’s nine-week campaign was not long enough.
“It was not enough time to tell a lot of our good policies. More work was required to meet the community,” he said.
Mr Khan was first elected to Wyndham council in 2012. He stood down from council at the 2020 election.
He said he put his hand up to be deputy lord mayor because he believed Melbourne was not the city it used to be.
“It’s not the same city it was three to four years ago,” he said.
“There are a lot of vacancies, a lot of empty leases.
“It needs x-factor.
“You need a business progressive lord mayor and deputy lord mayor to run Town Hall.
“If you were looking for change, you haven’t achieved it.”
He said the city, which is home to his business, is “such a great place”, adding that he had thoroughly enjoyed the election.
“Wyndham is totally different to the City of Melbourne,” he said.
“There is a diversity of voters with different issues across the city.
“People were more engaged with the election.”
And, he hasn’t ruled out running again in four years’ time.
“A lot of people out their trust in us,” he said.
“You only lose when you quit.”
