A FORMER shire staff member has announced her intention to seek election to Gannawarra Shire Council.
Kerang resident, Jodie Basile has worked in customer service and as executive assistant to the chief executive officer.
She will nominate in Patchell Ward when the five-day nomination period formally opens next Thursday.
A current Patchell Ward councillor, Mark Arians also announced this week that he will seek a second term.
Fellow Patchell Ward councillor, Brian Gibson is also seeking re-election and Cr Keith den Houting will retire after serving for 13 and a half years, including four terms as mayor.
Mrs Basile, 42, and her husband, Rob, a Kerang retailer, have three children, aged 14, 17 and 20.
“I’ve grown up in Kerang and am passionate about it. This is a beautiful town to bring my family up,” she said.
She worked with the shire for nine years in general customer service, project work and as executive assistant to the chief executive officer for seven years. Her current role is human resources and support services at Cohuna District Hospital.
Mrs Basile was a member of St Joseph’s Primary School board for seven years, involved in school fund-raising, two years as Kerang Netball Club secretary and two years on the club’s junior football committee.
“I believe that the council needs to have true consultation with the community and to get the community on board,” she said.
“I promise to act with integrity and honesty and to ask questions on behalf of the community.”
Mrs Basile regards our youth as our future and said that we need to better promote our natural assets, our lakes and waterways.
“We need a whole-of-community approach to advocating for funding and projects,” she said.
Current candidates:
AVOCA WARD [1 position]: Cr Neil Gannon.
MURRAY [1 position]: Cr Oscar Aertssen.
PATCHELL [3 positions]: Cr Mark Arians, Jodie Basile, Cr Brian Gibson.
YARRAN [2 positions]: Andrew Gibbs/Sonia Wright, Cr Neville Goulding/Robert Cooper, Cr Lorraine Learmonth.
