Mayor opts out of state race

By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS

GREATER Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti has ruled himself out of the preselection race for retiring Dandenong MP John Pandazopoulos’s seat.
Cr Memeti, an ALP member and two-time mayor, said he had been urged by about 30 or 40 people to run for the seat.
However, he said, he’d kept his vow not to enter either the state or federal arenas until his children had turned 18.
“I love being a councillor and being mayor. My youngest boy is 15, so I won’t be running this time around.”
He paid tribute to Mr Pandazopoulos, who ends his 22-year parliamentary service ahead of next year’s State Election.
“[Mr Pandazopoulos] started as a councillor and mayor of Berwick. He’s been serving the community for 29 years – more than half his life. He was involved with the revitalisation of central Dandenong, which he can be very proud of.”
Cr Memeti said he hoped the new ALP candidate, expected to be finalised before Christmas, was “someone who understands our very diverse community.”
“They need to represent each and everyone in the community.”