Four Oaks rivals forget past

By Rebecca Fraser
FOUR Oaks Ward councillors Rob Wilson and Paul Richardson have vowed to put their differences aside for the betterment of their ward.
Before his official swearingin on Monday Mr Richardson, head of the Endeavour Hills Community Watchdog group, had openly attacked Cr Wilson in the local media and also in his recent candidate speech.
In this speech he said he did not want current ward councillors who contributed and caused legal and financial costs to the ratepayers of Casey reelected to repeat their actions in future councils.
Cr Richardson mentioned the Pagan Awareness controversy, the $10,000 spent on unauthorised shirts for the Edwin Flack Games in 2002, the present $30,000 lighting debacle at Strathaird Reserve and the alleged breach of the privacy act involving Hillcrest Christian College students and the Casey Rates Review committee.
Cr Wilson has been involved with and received much attention over each of these issues and Cr Richardson has openly attacked him over these controversies.
But upon election Cr Richardson said he did not think his previous comments would affect the pair’s ability to work as a team and service their ward.
“The past should not worry the ratepayers as we will be making sure that we do get along.
“We have had our differences but we are not enemies and we will make good of this situation.
“There is no animosity there and whatever personal issues Rob Wilson has with anyone they will be his own and I will be staying out of them,” he said.
Cr Wilson said he felt honoured and privileged to be returned by the ratepayers of Four Oaks and also felt his differences with Cr Richardson could be put aside.
He said there had been some “surprising” results in Saturday’s election but would not say whether he thought Cr Richardson’s election was part of this surprise package.
“We will work together fine.
“He only attacked me when he wanted my spot and he does not need to attack me any more as we will both be acting in the best interests of ratepayers,” he said.
Former Four Oaks Ward councillor Roland Abraham, who lost his seat on Saturday, said things could be “interesting” but hoped the pair could work together.
“I hope they can patch up their differences with him (Wilson) as the elder statesman and Paul whose wish to be a councillor has come true,” Mr Abraham said,
“If he (Richardson) wants to serve the community this cannot be done without being part of a team.
“You cannot always be on the attack.
“I am not saying don’t attack — you do need to debate, but to continually attack will bring no results, no favours for yourself or the community,” he said.