Council
20 September, 2024
Gulline drops out of election race
Horsham Mayor Robyn Gulline is stepping down from council after a turbulent term of office.
Cr Gulline - and her former deputy Penny Flynn - are the only councillors not standing for re-election, while at least three new faces are guaranteed to occupy the civic chamber after October 26.
Cr Gulline had faced calls to resign from a number of agitators in the community, unimpressed with council's performance which had been underscored by two dismal community satisfaction surveys.
In recent weeks a state government intervention over a botched budget delay - which led to a second municipal monitor being appointed to council in two years - was followed by the resignation earlier this month of CEO Sunil Bhalla.
Cr Gulline declined to comment on her decision.
She also turned down an offer of an interview with The Horsham Times.
David Bowe, Ian Ross and Claudia Haenel - the three "rebel" councillors who turned against the mayor and CEO after the budget debacle - have elected to stand again.
Les Power, meanwhile, the only councillor retained in 2020 from the 2016 cohort, is attempting to serve a third consecutive term.
But they are in the minority, as a further 11 nominees are fresh faces (aside from Brian Basham, who unsuccessfully stood in 2020).
While the four sitting councillors could retain seats, a clean sweep of newcomers is also possible, given the municipality is now split into seven single-councillor wards.
The Victorian Electoral Commission's restructuring of the boundaries is the biggest change in the composition of council since amalgamations in 1994.
In July last year councillors unanimously objected to the proposal from the VEC.
In a four-page submission to the Electoral Review Advisory Panel, they wrote: “We believe the community deserves to choose their ‘best’ seven candidates from a large pool and not single-councillor wards where a candidate could be elected without a contest.”
The new structure will now see the unopposed election of two new candidates - Rebecca Sluggett in Kalimna Ward and Brian Klowss in Wyn Wyn Ward.
Two or three candidates will campaign for votes in each of the five remaining wards - including a husband and wife each hoping to snare separate seats.
Horsham's newly elected councillors will find themselves working alongside municipal monitor Steven Kingshott, who began his 10-month appointment on September 2, briefed to report to Local Government Minister Melissa Horne on "governance concerns" in council.
His predecessor Jude Holt, who served as monitor for six months from July 2022, recommended council address the disconnect between community interest in council affairs and an apparent revolving door of inexperienced, elected councillors.
She said the rate of attrition was among the most concerning aspects of the running of council.
Only 26 candidates had put their hands up to become councillors over the previous 11 years - 22 of whom had never taken office before.
She also noted “conflict between the councillor cohort” as a factors likely to have contributed to the reluctance of many to serve.
Given the new council will be decided from a pool of 15 candidates - compared to only nine last time around - perhaps that disconnect now has an opportunity to heal.
* Craig Niemann, a former CEO of Greater Bendigo City Council, was this week appointed interim CEO of Horsham Rural City Council.