Two councillors compete for one position as candidates come forward for elections

TWO current Melville councillors have been forced into a head-to-head tussle for a single seat in next month’s local government elections.

Following boundary changes to even up population distribution across the City of Melville’s six wards, Central ward Councillor Duncan Macphail will contest the Bateman-Kardinya-Murdoch ward, where one of the four alternatives is current Deputy Mayor Tim Barling.

James Byrnes, Jillian Horton and Tony Stokes are vying for the same vacancy in Bateman-Kardinya-Murdoch ward.

Regardless of that result, the council is set for at least two new faces, with Cr Macphail’s vacated Central ward role up for grabs while Cr Guy Wieland is not standing for re-election in Bicton-Attadale-Alfred Cove ward.

There are four candidates in the Central ward: Sean Ayres, Margaret Sandford, Souzi Clifford and Derek Ammon.

Contesting Cr Wieland’s vacant role in the Bicton-Attadale-Alfred Cove ward will be Leigh Martin, Gary Crawford, Glynis Barber and John Watters.

Cr Wieland, who was also a councillor from 2007-2011, said work commitments meant he was not in a position to continue his civic service now.

He did not rule out trying again in future.

The mayoral race was confirmed with incumbent Russell Aubrey going against former Tangney MHR George Gear and current councillor and former mayor Katy Mair.

The Applecross-Mt Pleasant ward will be a two-horse race between Cr Nicholas Pazolli and former councillor Cameron Schuster.

Cr Matthew Woodall will contest Bull Creek-Leeming ward against Dante Giacomin, Jennifer Spanbroek, Gavin Waugh and Robert Willis.

Cr Patricia Phelan is also in a five-person field as she attempts to remain a Palmyra-Melville-Willagee councillor against Tomas Fitzgerald, Adam Hewber, Ann Roberts and Peter Best.