WITH council elections less than two months away, almost all sitting Knox councillors have confirmed they will re-contest their seats on October 27.
So far, only Cr Sue McMillan will not be standing again for Dobson Ward, as she exclusively told the Weekly last month, because she wants to go back to university to study community development.
Cr Peter Cole's plans remain unknown as he has not responded to phone calls.
Mayor Adam Gill confirmed he would stand again in Dinsdale Ward, but said he would definitely not be running for mayor again.
Despite enjoying the role this year, Cr Gill said he wanted to be able to spend more time with his family and young children. Cr Gill held his seat by the highest margin of any councillor, securing 72.42 per cent of the votes cast in his ward in the 2008 election.
Councillors John Mortimore, David Cooper, Mick Van de Vreede, Joe Cossari, Andrew Walter and Darren Pearce also confirmed their intentions to run for council for another four-year term.
Cr Van de Vreede was elected uncontested in Tirhatuan Ward in 2008 and is hoping to win the seat for the fourth term in a row.
Cr Walter, who holds Friberg, had one of the narrowest margins in 2008, receiving just 20.67 per cent of the vote compared to Tony Holland's 31.77 per cent of the vote. However, after preferences were distributed, Cr Walter had 4902 votes and Mr Holland 4638.
Taylor Ward in Rowville had the highest voter turn-out in 2008 with 82.46 per cent of the total enrolment voting and Baird Ward in Boronia had the lowest with just 70.32 per cent of residents placing their votes.
Knox is one of just eight councils holding attendance elections. All the other 70 councils hold postal elections.
The Victorian Electoral Commission will hold an information session for prospective candidates on Tuesday, September 18 from 7pm at Knox Civic Centre in Wantirna South.
Letters to the Editor at Knox Council election time:
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