More than 100 community leaders, activists and campaigners packed into the Fawkner Seniors Citizen Centre on August 3 to help launch Sue Bolton’s reelection bid for a spot in Merri-bek Council, in the Bababi Djinanang ward which covers Fawkner and parts of Coburg North.
Bolton has already served three terms and has built up a reputation for her dedication to serving the community.
Alongside Bolton, Socialist Alliance is running a team of activist candidates: Jacob Andrewartha; Felix Dance; and Jordan Armaou-Massoud.
Jeremy Breen, a resident in Coburg for more than 20 years, told Green Left he supports Bolton because “she has always fought for the rights of residents”.
Damir Mitric, from the Save Fawkner Pool campaign, said Bolton was instrumental in stopping council from closing the outdoor pool.
Palestinian activist Hash Tayeh commended Bolton for her work supporting the Palestine justice movement, saying she “embodies what it truly means to be a servant of the people”.
Bolton demonstrates her "commitment to justice and humanity", Tayeh said, “Whether it’s standing against the genocide in Gaza or fighting to keep our outdoor pools open”.
Sarah Hathway, Socialist Alliance councillor in the City of Greater Geelong, who is also recontesting in the Corio Ward spoke, as did Andrewartha, who is standing in Merri-bek's Pentridge ward.
Faiz Mohammed, president of the Hyderabadi Australia Youth Association, said Bolton had shown great support for his community. He said she challenged the mainstream conception of what community leadership is adding that she is “always reachable” and “always active”.
Christian Astourian, founder of Sydney Road Accessible Tram Stops campaign, thanked Bolton for her support and helping spread awareness about the campaign.
Bolton, reflecting on her work on council, said “councils are always trying to take away what little democratic say we are allowed to have”. She said she would continue to “oppose bureaucratic decision-making” which mostly rides roughshod over people’s needs.
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Andrewartha told GL the campaign to reelect Bolton is also about “demonstrating that a new type of politics is possible”.
Bolton’s re-election is going to be a lot harder since Victoria shifted to single-member wards. That was motivation enough for volunteers to sign up for letterboxing, door knocking and other campaign activities.
As independent Merri-bek councillor Monica Harte said at the conclusion of the launch: “We can’t afford to not get Bolton re-elected.”
[Get involved with Sue Bolton and Socialist Alliance Council Election campaign in Merri-bek here.]