Mayor stitched me up: Rival

By Rebecca Fraser
NEWLY elected Casey mayor Kevin Bradford is immediately under fire, with a former council colleague calling for him to be sacked.
Former Brechin Ward councillor Angela Dunleavy, who lost her seat in Saturday’s election, has branded Cr Bradford a “despicable person” after making claims he “stitched up” her election campaign.
Ms Dunleavy claims Cr Bradford had promised to organise both the printing and distribution of her campaign brochures while she was overseas on a personal trip but did neither.
She claims Cr Bradford told her that two companies had printed and distributed her brochures for her when she was away.
But when Ms Dunleavy called the companies they said this was not the case.
A spokesperson for Cranbourne company GoPrint told the News this week that they had not received a request to print brochures for Ms Dunleavy, but confirmed they had printed brochures for Cr Bradford.
A spokesperson for Advanced Letterbox distribution in Narre Warren said they had distributed brochures for Cr Bradford, but had never received a request to distribute anything for Ms Dunleavy.
“I needed to go overseas on family matters and he (Cr Bradford) said ‘I will deal with it (the brochures), you go away and I will fix it’,” an angry Ms Dunleavy said.
She called for Cr Bradford to stand down or be sacked from council.
Ms Dunleavy also claims that Cr Bradford offered to submit her information to the Victorian Electoral Commission, and as a result, her telephone number on the VEC website was incorrect.
“I guess he thought that was one contender out of the way but what he has done is just disgusting,” she said.
“He should stand down as he lacks the integrity to represent the community. He has stitched me up big time.
“I do not have sour grapes. I should have his spot after what he has done,” she said.
Cr Bradford was reluctant to comment on Ms Dunleavy’s claims and said it was up to her to organise her own campaign.
When asked if he had agreed to print Ms Dunleavy’s brochures while she was away, he declined to comment.
He said he had assisted in Ms Dunleavy’s campaign but would not disclose the nature of his assistance.
“I did all I could for Angela but she was overseas and uncontactable.
“It is up to candidates to worry about their own campaigns.”