By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
ANGELA Long was elected unopposed as Greater Dandenong mayor last week and pledged to represent indigenous groups and young people.
Cr Long, who previously served as mayor in 2000, spoke of the honour of representing residents in “one of Australia’s most vibrant municipalities”.
She listed among her priorities reversing the “inaccurate stigmas” about high rates of crime and drug use in the municipality, representing young people and continuing her long-standing work with the Dandenong and District Aborigines Co-operative.
“My most important role as both a councillor and as mayor is to represent each and every one of you who make our city a better place.”
Cr Long said the success of the council “doesn’t depend on one individual but all of us working with each other for the greater good”.
Most councillors formed a united front as they stood to congratulate the mayor in their inauguration speeches, the exceptions being councillors Maria Sampey and John Kelly.
That may be one of the few concurrences between the pair of Silverleaf Ward councillors, who were seated apart from each other in the council chamber. Cr Sampey had insisted on the unusual seating arrangement, having been infuriated by the election tactics of councillors Kelly and Long — Cr Kelly for preferencing her last in the council elections, and Cr Long for “running her husband Barry against me”.
Asked by the Journal if she could heal these enmities, Cr Long said: “It’s early days. Everyone knows I’ve had difficulties with Cr Sampey but I’m willing to work with everyone.”
She said Cr Kelly “never gets up to talk for anyone” at mayoral inaugurations.
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