by Cam Lucadou-Wells
UPDATED 19 SEPTEMBER
In a series of bombshell moves, I Cook Foods owner Ian Cook and current mayor Lana Formoso’s husband and brother have entered the fray of the Greater Dandenong Council elections.
Cook – who is sueing the council and two officers for alleged malicious prosecution – will run against sitting councillor Phillip Danh in Yarraman Ward.
Meanwhile, Cr Formoso will re-contest her Noble Park North seat, her husband Daniel Formoso will oppose Dandenong North Ward incumbent councillor Bob Milkovic and her brother Sasha Jankovic will run in Keysborough South Ward.
Cr Formoso and Jankovic are Labor members, Daniel Formoso is a former member.
Sitting ALP councillor Sophie Tan has been elected unopposed in Noble Park Ward – after the only other candidate Dy Truong withdrew from the race on the final day of nominations.
Former councillor Peter Brown is contesting the Keysborough Ward seat, vacated by Cr Tim Dark. Others in the running in the ward are South East United president Sinan Akkurt, Daniel Dang, Hemara In, 2020 Labor-leaning candidate Reinaldo Pincheira and Yarraman by-election candidates Melinda Yim and Tevyn Gov (Victorian Socialists)
In Cleeland Ward, two ALP members Pradeep Hewavitharana and Zahra Haydar Big have joined the contest. Sitting ALP councillor Angela Long is defending her seat against Greens councillor Rhonda Garad, who has shifted from Keysborough South Ward.
Dandenong North Ward councillor Milkovic will be up against Daniel Formoso, Rosana Ierone, Branka Tomic and ALP member and Dandenong Market bakery-owner Rhonda Tannous.
Five-time mayor and ALP candidate Jim Memeti will recontest Dandenong Ward. He is opposed by independent Rahima Rizai, who had run in the recent Yarraman by-election.
In Keysborough South, there is also no sitting councillor. The candidates are Labor members Alexandra Bryant, Ajdin Muzur and Sasha Jankovic, former councillor Geraldine Gonsalvez and Greens member Isabella Do.
Mayor Cr Formoso, in Noble Park North Ward, will be against Karl Rathnayake, real estate agent Love Agravante and recent Yarraman by-election candidate Will Billings.
Springvale Central Ward is the seat of former deputy mayor Richard Lim, who had attempted to run in Springvale North but was declared ineligible. In the fray are real estate agent Alice Phuong Le, Victorian Socialists’ Sean Stebbings, architect/builder Minh Le, migration agent Meng Bunlay, Hor Truong and Brian Dalton.
Councillor Sean O’Reilly will be again up against 2020 candidate Angela Holl in Springvale North Ward, joined by candidate Huong Dinh.
Springvale South Ward councillor Loi Truong will vie for re-election. Other candidates are migration agent Thayhorn Yim, Andy Tran, Yen Thai, Maleb Hem and Lin Sok.
