Voters go with experience

By BRIDGET COOK
VOTERS in Mayfield Ward went for experience in this year’s Casey council elections.
Councillor Amanda Stapledon was re-elected for Mayfield, along with former Cranbourne Shire councillor and former Cranbourne MP Gary Rowe.
Previous ward councillor Kevin Bradford was defeated but received the third highest number of first preference votes.
Cr Stapledon said she was thrilled and honoured that Mayfield residents had entrusted her to represent them again.
“I’m most looking forward to working with my new ward councillor Gary Rowe to deliver the best for Mayfield and the City of Casey,” she said.
“My biggest focus will be ensuring infrastructure matches growth and that we improve our road systems.
“This is a great council and I am so looking forward to working with each and every councillor to ensure that Casey and the ward of Mayfield is the best place to live, work, learn and play.”
Mayfield could be home to the city’s new mayor, with talks that Cr Stapledon could be in line to take up the mayor role.
“Last term, I didn’t put my hand up (for mayor) as I wanted to work with the residents of Mayfield to identify and start addressing all the issues that exist there,” she said.
“A couple of people have mentioned my being mayor this year and it is something I am considering.”
Cr Rowe said he was as happy as the day he entered parliament, to be elected to the
Casey council again.
“I am over the moon, I have deep feelings for this community from my days representing it in State Parliament,” he said.
“I am most looking forward to working with my fellow councillors to achieve great things for the City of Casey and the residents of the Mayfield Ward,” he said.
“I am particularly looking forward to the partnership with Cr Amanda Stapledon, she has done a fantastic job in difficult circumstances.”
He said he hoped that all councillors would work co-operatively for the benefit of the city as a whole.