By Casey Neill
“The new council may be in for some interesting times,” ousted councillor Peter Brown declared.
And the former Paperbark Ward representative seems determined to ensure that’s the case.
He fired off a series of inflammatory emails after the Victorian Electoral Commission announced the final results for Greater Dandenong on Saturday 29 October following the 22 October local government election.
Tim Dark will take the long-serving councillor’s place after earning 16.49 per cent of first preference votes, compared to Mr Brown’s 11.17 per cent.
“His youthful looks concealed the face of a Liberal fifth-columnist whose task it will be to discredit the current Victorian Government and some of my former council colleagues from within the council chamber,” Mr Brown said.
He brought up homophobic and sexist comments Cr Dark made back in 2013 that led to him resigning from the Swinburne University Liberal Club in 2014.
“The comments I made with regards to the homophobic slurs and misogynistic, sexist comments were off the cuff remarks I made,” Cr Dark said.
“I was very immature and I was a kid. It was ridiculous talk.
“It actually doesn’t represent any of the views I currently hold.”
Mr Brown also alleged that Cr Dark set up a fake email account in Cr Roz Blades’ name to forward an email to himself that Mr Brown had sent to fellow candidate Brad Woodford.
Confused? So was Cr Dark.
“That’s the first I even know anything remotely about that,” he said.
“I had no reason to believe it was fraudulent.”
Cr Blades confirmed that the address was not hers.
Mr Brown said he spent $32,000 on his campaign and received no support from any political party.
“I was outgunned by a state Liberal Party campaign,” he said.
He said Cr Dark blamed the council for State Government issues including crime rates, sky rail and the CFA dispute.
“He also argued that the new library and community hub in Springvale was a waste of money,” Mr Brown said.
He said Cr Dark received help to hand out how to vote cards from various Liberal party figures, several attached to South Eastern Metropolitan Region MP Inga Peulich.
Paperbark Ward voters comfortably returned councillors Heang Tak (20.89) and Roz Blades (22.5).
Cr Dark was more than 1000 votes clear of Cr Brown when distributed preferences got him over the 25 per cent threshold to earn a seat.
Mr Brown is also stirring up trouble in the two-seat Silverleaf Ward, where John Kelly’s retirement left a vacancy that Zaynoun Melhem will fill.
He received 24.35 per cent of first preference votes, with incumbent Maria Sampey following with 23.60 per cent.
Mr Brown is alleging that Rhonda Tannous, who received 14.75 per cent of the primary vote, did not meet the criteria for a candidate in that she doesn’t own property in the municipality.
Sue Walton and Saied Rezawi made the same allegations, which Ms Tannous denied.
“She sold and vacated her Dandenong property in June this year,” Mr Brown said.
“Tannous was warned prior to the closure of nominations she was ineligible.
“As Zeynoun Melham was elected on the preferences of Rhonda Tannous, his position as councillor elect must also be called into question.
“There may have to be a re-election.”
But from the Journal’s investigations, her preferences had not been distributed when Cr Melhem passed the threshold required for election.
Cr Melhem confirmed that he “got elected on my own”.
“It was very exciting actually,” he said.
“My mum was working full time.
“My wife helped me doorknock every weekend.
“I was calling my dad my full-time campaign manager.
“It was a real family effort.”
Cr Melhem said he grew up in Dandenong and his dad was a councillor during the ’90s, including a stint as mayor in 2000.
“It was one of the best places to grow up,” he said.
“I want it to be as good for my kids.”
He said a couple of fresh faces would “bring a little bit of life” to the chamber.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.
It’s business as usual in the Lightwood and Red Gum wards, with Youhorn Chea, Loi Truong, Sean O’Reilly, Matthew Kiran, Jim Memeti and Angela Long returned.
In Lightwood, Cr Chea received 31.14 per cent of first preference votes, with Cr O’Reilly following on 21.77 per cent and Cr Tuong on 20.23 per cent.
In Red Gum Ward, Cr Kirwan won his seat on first preferences alone with 26.58 per cent.
Cr Memeti was close behind with 24.41 per cent, and Cr Long achieved 16.85 per cent.
