There was one thing in the mind of candidates who were in the Campbelltown Civic Centre this afternoon to witness the ballot draw for the September 14 council election.
No, it wasn’t the hope they would draw a good spot on the ballot paper when returning officer Michelle Corbett (pictured above) did the draw.
The talk just before the ballot draw was about the monumental stuff up by the Liberal party which has resulted in scores of its candidates ruled out of the election in Campbelltown, Camden and other councils.
The deadline for nominations was noon yesterday (August 14) and when it passed a storm erupted when it became obvious the Liberal party had not managed to get all of its candidates across Sydney and NSW submitted in time.
All of Campbelltown’s Liberal Party candidates, which includes current councillors John Chew, Marian George and Riley Munro, were not nominated in time so will not be able to return to council.
In Camden, former mayor Therese Fedeli became one of the lucky ones, which means a Liberal Party ticket will be on the ballot paper in Central Ward, one of three wards for council elections.
“I think I just got lucky,’’ Ms Fedeli told the South West Voice a few moments ago.
As for Campbelltown’s Liberal councillors, all of whom have only served a short term of just two and a half years, “disappointment’’ was their go to word when we spoke to them.
“It was unexpected, not a shock but disappointing,’’ said Cr Chew, who would have been the next council leader of the Liberal Party, following the announcement Mayor George Greiss would be retiring on September 14.
Cr Greiss said the situation was unfortunate for the Campbelltown Liberal Party councillors.
“It’s disappointing that after working hard for Campbelltown they will not get an opportunity to continue doing that,’’ he said.
Riley Munro, the youngest serving councillor, said there may have been a measure of panic when the stuff up first became public yesterday.
“But the overall feeling was one of disappointment,’’ he said.
“It was a privilege to have served on Campbelltown Council, so at least we’ve got that.’’
Camden’s Cr Fedeli said she was “saddened and devastated that my Liberal colleagues in North and South Ward will not be on the ballot paper’’.
“Together, as a Liberal team, we have worked tirelessly to put the people of Camden first,’’ she said.
“Since 2012, I’ve had the privilege of representing Central Ward, and I’ve also had the honour of serving the broader Camden community as both Mayor and Deputy Mayor.’’
Back in the Campbelltown Civic Centre this afternoon, Sustainable Australia Party was the first name out of the ballot box, meaning they will appear as Group A on the ballot paper.
Cr Matt Stellino (Animal Justice Party) will be Group B, Community Voice of Australia C, Adam Zhara (independent) D, Greens E, Community First (Councillors Josh Cotter, Warren Morrison) F and Labor Party G.
The only ungrouped candidate, Lisa Riordan (Animal Justic Party) will appear as Group H.
