SECURITY guards, a cabinet maker and a physiotherapist are among those eyeing Greater Dandenong votes at the 7 September federal election.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) released the official candidate lists on 16 August which in Isaacs, Bruce and Hotham also included retirees, carers, educators, accountants and business owners.
There are nine candidates for the seat of Isaacs, up from five in 2010 and seven in 2007, which takes in Dandenong South, Keysborough and part of Noble Park.
Incumbent and Australian Labor Party (ALP) candidate Mark Dreyfus won 49.42 per cent of the first preference vote at the last election and 61.02 per cent of the two candidate preferred vote, up from 57.69 per cent in 2007.
Hotham has six candidates, up from five at the last election but down from seven in 2007, and the electorate includes Springvale South and parts of Keysborough, Noble Park and Springvale.
Retiring former ALP leader Simon Crean won 54.08 per cent of the primary vote and 63.50 of the two candidate preferred vote at the 2010 election.
Clare O’Neil will contest the seat for the ALP this time around, following a dramatic dumping of Mr Crean’s initial replacement, Geoff Lake, over concerns about his past behaviour.
Bruce has eight candidates, up from four in 2010 and seven in 2007, and includes Dandenong North, Noble Park North and parts of Dandenong, Noble Park and Springvale.
Labor incumbent Alan Griffin won 58.12 per cent of the two candidate preferred vote in 2010 and attracted 49.24 per cent of first preferences.
Monash University political commentator Nick Economou said Isaacs, Hotham and Bruce were historically safe ALP seats and were unlikely to change.
But Bruce Liberal candidate Emanuele Cicchiello is throwing everything he has into his campaign.
“While there is no doubt I have a battle on my hands to win the seat, I am working hard to let people know that there is a clear choice in Bruce at this election,” he said.
“I have met many locals who tell me they will vote Liberal for the first time in their lives.
“I am being supported by senior members of the Coalition team, such as Malcolm Turnbull and Christopher Pyne because they also believe local residents deserve better.”
ISAACS
1. John Elliot, Family First Party
2. James Leach, Democratic Labour Party
3. Nadia Seaman, Rise Up Australia Party
4. Avtar Singh Gill, Palmer United Party
5. Karen Dobby, Australian Christians
6. Mark Dreyfus, Australian Labor Party
7. Sandra Miles, The Greens
8. Laith Graham, Sex Party
9. Garry Spencer, Liberal
BRUCE
1. Rebecca Filliponi, Family First Party
2. Paul Robert Jose Tuyau, Palmer United Party
3. Alan Griffin, Australian Labor Party
4. Emanuele Cicchiello, Liberal
5. Geraldine Gonsalvez, Democratic Labour Party
6. Robert George White, Rise Up Australia Party
7. Lynette Keleher, The Greens
8. Kiry Uth, Independent
HOTHAM
1. Clare O’Neil, Australian Labor Party
2. Stephen Nowland, Family First Party
3. Fazal Cader, Liberal
4. Lorna Wyatt, The Greens
5. Samuel Warren Porter, Palmer United Party
6. Peter Vassiliou, Rise Up Australia Party
