Not sure who to vote for? We put the tough questions to all candidates to help you make up your mind – read on for their answers. All candidates have been sent the same questionnaire, which we will post as we receive them – check back here regularly for updates. Candidates have been given until October 6 to submit their responses.
LIGHTWOOD WARD
Springvale, Springvale South
2008 election results:
Elected: Youhorn Chea 6588, Loi Truong 3594, Yvonne Herring 2750 (recontesting in Silverleaf ward)
Enrolment: 25,081 (74.01% voted)
Formal votes: 17,164
Informal: 1402
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WHAT THE CANDIDATES SAY …
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LOI TRUONG
Suburb of residence: Springvale South
Occupation: Milk Bar Proprietor
Ward nominated for: Lightwood
How long have you lived in Greater Dandenong? My family and I have lived here since 2000. I also lived here between 1992 until 1995
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? If so, please list details (where, when, length of time, etc). I first stood for Greater Dandenong Council in 2008 and was elected as a Labor Party Candidate.
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which political party do you most identify? I have been a proud and active member of the Labor Party for 23 years.
Are you or have you ever been a member of an political interest or lobby group? I am a member of the Labor Party and have lobbied for policies to provide better education and training for people from all ethnic backgrounds and support job creation including support for small business. I have also lobbied for better general and ethno-specific aged services. These things are the basis of economic and social justice.
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? Yes
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? I am funding my own campaign and I don’t have a set budget.
Where will you be campaigning? Across my Ward of Lightwood, including the Springvale Shopping Centre
Who will you direct your preferences to? My number 2 preference is going to Dang Quach, a local solicitor who lives, works and volunteers in Springvale
Describe your involvement in the local community. I am a qualified community and social worker and I have worked in a variety of community worker jobs helping people. I am an active community volunteer in several local ethnic help groups and the Dandenong Red Cross. I have been active in local Clean-Up Australia, leading the Springvale effort earlier this year. I have helped with the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal for more than 18 years. I have personally donated about $20,000 to charities and local groups over the past three years.
What do you think being a councillor involves? You have got to listen to people’s views and concerns, discuss issues with them and be guided by them in your Council work. You have to be available to them. I speak Vietnamese, Cantonese and English which helps in an ethnically diverse ward like Lightwood.
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward? At the moment the major issue is ending the Council workers strike which has left our shopping centres littered with rubbish. There are serious issues regarding parking and the movement of traffic, particularly in Springvale shopping centre. Earlier this year I personally circulated a survey to 13,000 homes and businesses in Lightwood Ward. The issues raised all came down to the need for better Council services, including services for the elderly, children and youth and traditional concerns over footpaths, roads and upgrading parks. Because of the cost of living issues facing families, people wanted us to work to keep rates as low as possible.
What do you think are the most important issues facing Greater Dandenong? The issues in my Ward are important for the whole City. In Council operations we must always concentrate on cutting waste, duplication and unnecessary red tape as well as administrative complexity that just adds to cost and pushes up rates. I also want the Federal and State Governments to provide a fairer share of tax dollars to local government to pay for needed local services and that would help keep Council rates even lower. Council must also celebrate and promote our ethnic and cultural diversity. This has an important social and community benefit for the people who live and work here. It also has great commercial benefit, attracting shoppers and visitors from other parts of Melbourne and that means more jobs for people.
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SRI SAMY
Suburb of residence: Springvale
Occupation: Architect
Ward nominated for: Lightwood Ward
How long have you lived in Greater Dandenong? 9 yrs
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? If so, please list details (where, when, length of time, etc). No
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which political party do you most identify? ALP
Are you or have you ever been a member of an political interest or lobby group? No
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? Yes
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? $5000. Funded by my family
Where will you be campaigning? Door to door knocking at Springvale and Springvale South
Who will you direct your preferences to?
1. Sri Samy
2. Youhorn Chea
3. Sean O’Reilly
4. Dang Quach
5. Loi Troung
6. Minh Luan Lam
7. Fazlur-Rahman Mohammed
Describe your involvement in the local community. I believe that our community should be represented by a person with a range of interests, and who is involved in many community groups. I am involved in many community groups and activities including Women Building Bridges, Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition (VIRWC), Women Champions Group, Opening Doors Community Leadership Program, Women’s Friendship Centre, Asian Women’s Friendship Association, amongst many others.
What do you think being a councillor involves?
1. To be a representative to all the members of the local community and hence achieving a balance in diversity of community views to develop an overall strategy for the future and well being of all the residents.
2. Ensuring that appropriate mechanisms are in place to deal with the prompt handling of residents’ concerns
3. Setting the objectives, determining strategies and implementing the Council Plan
4. Working with other governments and organisations to achieve benefits for the community
5. Last but not least, being easily approachable to all of the residents
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward?
• Community safety
• Lack of specialised women’s health services
• Traffic congestion near the Springvale station and Springvale central market area
• There is not enough outdoor activity areas/facilities for children, teens and young adults
• Social isolation of the aged, disabled, young mums and newly arrived migrants and refugees
• Many of the residents are not aware of the services offered by the council
What do you think are the most important issues facing Greater Dandenong?
• Community safety
• Lack of specialised women’s health services in Greater Dandenong
• There is not enough outdoor activity areas/facilities for children, teens and young adults
• Childcare facilities and school support needs to be improved
• Residents are concerned about the animal management services handled by the Lost Dogs Home.
• Social isolation of the aged, disabled, young mums and newly arrived migrants and refugees
• Many of the residents are not aware of the services offered by the council
I have discussed the issues faced by the City of Greater Dandenong in my website www.srisamy.com.au
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FAZLUR-RAHMAN MOHAMMED
Suburb of residence: Springvale
Occupation: Accounts Officer (Associate CPA)
Ward nominated for: Lightwood Ward
How long have you lived in Greater Dandenong? Seven years
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? If so, please list details (where, when, length of time, etc). No
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which political party do you most identify? No, Proudly Independent
Are you or have you ever been a member of an political interest or lobby group? No
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? Yes, Definitely
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? $5,000
Where will you be campaigning? In Lightwood ward (Springvale and Springvale South)
Who will you direct your preferences to? Have not decided yet
Describe your involvement in the local community. Since I am working at a local school and live in the same ward, I attend many local parents meetings, community meetings and interfaith activities. I also involved in many sports clubs in finding out their needs. I have attended many business exhibitions organized by local business people.
What do you think being a councillor involves? Councillor works for the community not for a political party and in the same way Council is for the community not for a political party.
• Councillor establishes a relation between the community and the council.
• Will address community issues in council on behalf of the community.
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward?
• Cleaner neighbourhood
• Stronger support for business
• Stronger sports clubs
• Support for young families
• Care for seniors
• Well supported Libraries
• Quality maternal health
What do you think are the most important issues facing Greater Dandenong?
• Cleaner neighbourhood
• Stronger support for business
• Stronger sports clubs
• Support for young families
• Care for seniors
• Welll supported Libraries
• Quality maternal health
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LAM MINH LUAN
Suburb of residence: Keysborough
Occupation: Market Garden
Ward nominated for: Light Wood
How long have you lived in Greater Dandenong? For 26 years
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? If so, please list details (where, when, length of time, etc). No
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which political party do you most identify? Yes Labor party
* [Editor’s note: Mr Luan is not a member of the ALP. An ALP spokesman has confirmed Mr Luan applied for membership after nominating for the council election. The application is still being checked out and considered.]
Are you or have you ever been a member of an political interest or lobby group? No
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? Yes
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? My own budget
Where will you be campaigning? Springvale
Who will you direct your preferences to? N/A
Describe your involvement in the local community. I have involved with communities as VN.Thai.Lao.Cambodian. chinese since I have been in Australia.
What do you think being a councillor involves? I think a councillor like me easy to get involve with them because I understand their languages.English.VN.Thai.Lao.Cambodia.some Chinese.
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward? Helping and support multiculturalism
What do you think are the most important issues facing Greater Dandenong? For a better and safer city
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DANG QUACH
Suburb of residence: Springvale
Occupation: Legal practitioner
How long have you lived in Greater Dandenong? 30 years.
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? In 2005 but not elected.
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which political party do you most identify? ALP.
Are you or have you ever been a member of an political interest or lobby group? No.
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? Yes.
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? $3000.
Where will you be campaigning? Lightwood Ward.
Who will you direct your preferences to? Not decided yet.
Describe your involvement in the local community. Scout member, soccer club.
What do you think being a councillor involves? Making sure that we spend ratepayers’ monies wisely in local issues.
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward? Safer streets, lower rates and more parking and park spaces.
What do you think are the most important issues facing Greater Dandenong? Ensure that we spend our monies wisely and appropriately.
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SEAN O’REILLY
Suburb of residence: Springvale
Occupation: Information technology professional
Ward nominated for: Lightwood
How long have you lived in Greater Dandenong? 5 years.
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? If so, please list details (where, when, length of time, etc). I ran in 1997 in for Glen Eira council but missed out by 2 votes.
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which political party do you most identify? I am a member of the Australian Labor Party.
Are you or have you ever been a member of an political interest or lobby group? No.
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? Yes.
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? I am funding my campaign, with help from family and friends.
Where will you be campaigning? Springvale and Springvale South, and part of Noble Park and Keysborough.
Who will you direct your preferences to? When I have decided, it will be at seanoreilly.com.au/howtovote
Describe your involvement in the local community. I am president of Springvale Rise School Council and also a member of the parents committee of Killester College. I have been on the committee of Keyzpark Calisthenics.
What do you think being a councillor involves? First listening, and then making decisions that balance different interests fairly.
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward? Congestion. For example, everyone is sick and tired of waiting at the train station.
What do you think are the most important issues facing Greater Dandenong? How to deliver better services while keeping our rates down.
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YOUHORN CHEA
Suburb of residence: Springvale
Occupation: Mayor and voluntary work
Ward nominated for: Lightwood
How long have you lived in Greater Dandenong? Since 15 July 1982 (for over 15 years in Springvale)
Have you run for council/ been a councillor before, or any other level of government? If so, please list details (where, when, length of time, etc). I was first elected to the City of Greater Dandenong in 1997. I represented the Springvale Central Ward from 1997-2007 when Greater Dandenong had 11 single wards. In November 2008 Greater Dandenong changed from 11 to 4 wards and I was re-elected as one of the Lightwood Ward Councillors.
Are you/have you been a member of a political party? If yes, which party? If no, with which political party do you most identify? Yes, I am member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP).
Are you or have you ever been a member of any political interest or lobby group? Yes, member of the ALP.
If you are elected, will you commit to remaining a councillor for the whole term? Yes, I will commit to remaining a councillor for whole term.
What is your campaign budget? Who is funding your campaign? Approximately $15,000.00 from fund raising and my own personal budget.
Where will you be campaigning? Shopping centres in my ward, train station and door knocking.
Who will you direct your preferences to? Australian Labor Party’s Members first and others.
2. O’REILLY, Sean
3. SAMY, Sri
Describe your involvement in the local community. Since 1984 I worked as a welfare worker in my community. In July 1985 I established the Cambodian Association of Victoria and I was the first President of this organisation. I was one of the founders of the Cambodian Buddhist Association of Victoria and I was vice president of this organisation from 1984 until 1996. I have been involved in the board management of many organisations such as the Springvale Community Aid and Advise Bureau, South Eastern Migrant Resource Centre, and various other local organisations. Now I am president of the Springvale Multicultural Men’s Shed, Cambodian Association of Vic, Secretary of the Cambodian Elderly Citizens’ Association of Vic and advisor to various Chinese organisations in Springvale. I like to support my local community and freely offer my knowledge, time and energy to assist where I can.
What do you think being a councillor involves? A good councillor is involved in the decision making of council such as the annual budget, services for children and the elderly, maintaining parks, gardens, roads and footpaths, rubbish collection etc. In making new regulations, it is important to listen to our residents and work towards the best outcome for the city and its communities. When making decisions, I always put the residents first.
What do you think are the most important issues for your ward? I would like to see the Springvale Library expanded, lobby for underground Springvale railway crossing (Springvale grade separation), further development of the Springvale Shopping Centre, work with business to provide jobs, provide help for low income earners, reduce rate rises especially for battling families, reduce drug and crime statistics in our city, protect parks and open spaces, support the Greater Dandenong Interfaith network, improve services for children and the elderly, respect diversity and support multiculturalism (deliver a fair go for all).
What do you think are the most important issues facing Greater Dandenong? Working for a better and safer community that delivers a fair go for all.
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