N ominations have closed for 20 Victorian councils conducting election on 20 March 1999.

A total of 457 candidates have nominated for the 166 council seats. This is a decrease of 9.2% (45 candidates) on the number that nominated for the same councils at their last elections in March 1996 (March 1997 for Nillumbik Shire).
Of particular interest is the record 80 candidates for nine council seats at Nillumbik Shire an increase of 54 candidates since March 1997.
Melbourne City Council, as usual drew a 'Cup field' of nominations with 47 candidates, up ten since 1996.

By contrast, at Golden Plains Shire only 10 nominations were received for nine seats. Boroondara City has seen a reduction of 35 nominations over the 1996 elections while Greater Bendigo City, Ballarat City and Stonnington City lost 15, 14 and 11 candidates respectively. Total numbers of candidates increased in five councils and remained unchanged in two others.

Thirty-five of 166 incumbant councillors have chosen not to renominate, including 12 sitting or former mayors / Shire Presidents.

We provide a complete list of candidates (and elected councillors in unopposed elections) above. This list could change between now and election day as some candidates may choose to withdraw.

Our analysis of nominations:

Nomination Statistics
New Councillors Elected Unopposed
Retiring Councillors

Due to the late finalization of enrolment figures, an analysis of council enrolments for the March elections appear in the next number.

F our PM, last Wednesday afternoon and the doors close on nominations for five 'attendance poll' councils. Eight days of sweating over who will or will not be participating in the March races are over. Two hours later a lottery will determine ballot paper order for the new candidates. An identical procedure has already occurred the previous day for the 15 postal ballot councils. The annual election season has begun.

But there is a select group of candidates relieved of all routine electoral concerns. Concerns such as ballot paper draw, policy formulation, nomination statements, preference swap agreements, campaigning, appointment of scrutineers, election day organisation and the possibility of defeat. For forty two people in 14 councils, Munelect '99 has become a direct trip from nominee to councillor without stopping at candidate, by being elected unopposed.

Elections are all but over at Golden Plains Shire where eight of the nine council seats have been decided without contest. Likewise, Glenelg Shire has already elected five of its nine councillors; Corangamite Shire, 4 of 10; Pyrenees Shire, 3 of 7; and Warrnambool City, 3 of 9 councillors. The number of councillors elected unopposed dropped in only three councils.

At close of nomination, forty two candidates were elected unopposed. This represents 25.3% of council vacancies, an increase of 25 vacancies over their previous elections when only 17 seats (10.5% of total seats) were filled unopposed. This contrasts with the last pre-amalgamation year of elections, 1993. In that year, in the predecessor municipalities of these 20 councils, 115 of 201 vacancies (57%) were elected unopposed. Five seats received no nomination at all!

Of the forty two candidates elected unopposed, 37 were incumbant (sitting) councillors.