Nominations are now open for the Casey City Council election. Check out who is running to represent your ward.
Odessa Blain
September 17, 2024 – 2:32PM, Source: Herald Sun
Casey City Council election is not far away, and many of the candidates are locked in.
Casey will have 12 wards with one councillor in each ward.
The previous council was dismissed in February 2020, but had six wards with 11 councillors.
We’ll keep updating this story as candidates nominate from Monday September 9 to September 17, so stay tuned.
Have other questions about the election? We answer everything you need to know and more here.
Akoonah Ward
Mush Rahaman
Mush Rahaman is running as an independent in the upcoming council election.
Mr Rahaman is a Berwick local and the owner of La Baguette Cafe.
He is also a Narre Warren Berwick Business Group committee member.
He was also nominated as a Local Hero in the Australia Day Awards.
Samuel Dennison
Samuel Dennison has lived in the Casey region for over a decade.
Mr Dennison has volunteered with the Sikh Volunteers Australia and the Mental Health Foundation Australia.
He also runs a small business.
Scott Dowling
Scott Dowling has called Berwick home for 20 years and his family ties to the area extend back three generations.
He owns two local businesses and hopes to foster a thriving local economy.
His website lists his priorities as public safety, safe roads, clean parks, upgrading facilities and responsible spending.
Patrick Ferdinands
Patrick Ferdinands is running to represent Akoonah Ward.
He is the principal lawyer at Ferdinands Legal, a law firm based in Berwick.
Kushal Shah
Kushal Shah is running as an independent in the upcoming election.
His website lists his vision for Casey as cutting rates, corruption, crime and congestion.
Dianne Pagliuca
Dianne Pagliuca is listed as a candidate for Akoonah Ward.
Casuarina Ward
Kim Ross
Kim Ross is running as an independent candidate for Casuarina Ward.
Ms Ross is a psychologist, business owner and mother of three.
She has lived in Casey for 25 years.
She is passionate about youth and mental health.
Rebecca Doyle-Walker
Rebecca Doyle-Walker is running for Casuarina Ward in the upcoming election.
She is an independent and a disability advocate.
Bassir Qadiri OAM
Order of Australia medal recipient and former Casey Citizen of the Year, Bassir Qadiri is running in the upcoming council elections.
Mr Qadiri is passionate about promoting harmony and multiculturalism.
He has taught languages at Dandenong High School, hosted radio programs for SBS and worked as an interpreter for Monash Health.
He is the founder of the Bakhtar Community Organisation and has worked on a variety of committees including the City of Casey’s Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Morteza Ali
Morteza Ali is listed as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Jane Foreman
Jane Foreman is listed as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Michael Kelaart
Michael Kelaart is listed as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Suzanne Carmody
Suzanne Carmody is listed as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Mariam Khaliqy
Mariam Khaliqy is listed as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Lyndon Samuel
Lyndon Samuel is listed as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Rex Lazaros
Rex Lazaros is listed as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Correa Ward
Kanu Aggarwal
Kanu Aggarwal, a teacher and mother of two, is running as a candidate for Correa Ward.
She also volunteers and helps hold both cultural and religious events for the community.
Ms Aggarwal was voted Citizen of the Year in 2022.
Shegofa Naseri
A philosophy and economics student at Deakin University, Shegofi Naseri has called Cranbourne home since 2018.
Her vision for Casey is to help create a community where young people feel supported and residents feel safe.
She hopes to increase opportunities for youth, help combat drug addiction in the community and build stronger connections through community programs.
Neshat Abdullah
Neshat Abdullah is listed as a candidate for Correa Ward.
He is a father-of-three, local business owner and an interpreter.
He has listed his priorities as including improved community safety, safer roads and footpaths and improved access to council facilities.
Tracey Ryan
Tracey Ryan is listed as a candidate for Correa Ward.
Gary Rowe
Gary Rowe is listed as a candidate for Correa Ward.
Onkar Sandhawalia
Onkar Sandhawalia is listed as a candidate for Correa Ward.
Jennifer Dizon
Jennifer Dizon is listed as a candidate for Correa Ward.
Cranbourne Gardens Ward
Michelle Crowther
Lifelong Cranbourne resident Michelle Crowther is running as a candidate to represent Cranbourne Gardens Ward.
She is the owner of Be Your Best Physiotherapy and a mother of two.
One of her focuses will be helping to improve access to maternal and child health appointments.
Mary Melton
Mary Melton is listed as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Anthony Lake
Anthony Lake is listed as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Blessing Nhlziyo
Blessing Nhlziyo is listed as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Tamas Kapitany
Tamas Kapitany is listed as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Dillwynia Ward
Jaz Masuta
Real estate agent Jaz Masuta is running to represent Dillwynia Ward.
His priorities include public safety, traffic management, multicultural and community events, youth programs and better mobile coverage.
Gurpreet Gill
Gurpreet Gill is running as a candidate for Dillwynia Ward.
His website says: “Elegance redefined”.
Champika Hewa Maddumage
Champika Hewa Maddumage is running as a candidate for Dillwynia Ward.
Baljinder Dhaliwal
Baljinder Dhaliwal is running as a candidate for Dillwynia Ward.
David Bissell
David Bissell is running as a candidate for Dillwynia Ward.
Anthony Walter
Anthony Walter is running as a candidate for Dillwynia Ward.
Anthony Dissanayake
Anthony Dissanayake is running as a candidate for Dillwynia Ward.
Joe Pang
Joe Pang is running as a candidate for Dillwynia Ward.
Grevillea Ward
David Perry
Lifelong Casey resident David ‘Dave’ Perry is running as a candidate for the Greens for Grevillea Ward.
He hopes to advocate for better public services, stop inappropriate development and fight for housing affordability.
John Ternel
John Ternel has been a City of Casey local for 50 years.
He is the president elect of Greater Dandenong and Endeavour Hills Rotary Club
He has listed his focuses as reducing crime, the cost of living, improving sports facilities and ensuring transparency.
Stephen Matulec
Lifelong Narre Warren local Stephen Matulec is running as an independent candidate.
Mr Matulec said he would like council to remove red tape and bureaucracy and described himself as a strong supporter of private property rights.
He also said he wanted to bring council back to basics and focus on local issues, including road and footpath maintenance, rubbish collection and mowing lawns.
Sinfree Chirunga
Sinfree Chirunga is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Bernie Postma
Bernie Postma is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Haroon Sayed
Haroon Sayed is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
David Parr
David Parr is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Stephen Capon
Stephen Capon is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Carmen Powell
Carmen Powell is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Kalora Ward
Zabihulla Mazoori
Casey Citizen of the Year 2023 finalist Zabihulla ‘Zabi’ Mazoori is running to represent Kalora Ward.
Mr Mazoori has volunteered as secretary for Greater Dandenong FC over the past two years and has said he would advocate for more sporting facilities as a councillor.
Damien Sawyer
Damien Sawyer is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Peterine Smulders
Peterine Smulders is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Melinda Ambros
Melinda Ambros is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Jafri Luwanga
Jafri Luwanga is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Brian Oates
Brian Oates is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Afroz Ahmed
Afroz Ahmed is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Duc Nguyen
Duc Nguyen is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Kowan Ward
Kasuni Mendis
Berwick community leader Kasuni Menis is running as a candidate for Kowan Ward.
Ms Mendis is the president of the Casey Multi-Faith Network and Casey Residents and Ratepayers.
She ran unsuccessfully for council in 2016 but has described herself as now being “older, wiser and more experienced”. Raj NayakRaj Nayak is listed as a candidate for Kowan Ward. Christine Skrobo Christine Skrobo is running as a candidate in the upcoming election. Jawad Erfani Jawad Erfani is running as a candidate in the upcoming election. Gagan Bumrah Gagan Bumrah is running as a candidate in the upcoming election. Shane Taylor Shane Taylor is running as a candidate in the upcoming election. Joby George Joby George is running as a candidate in the upcoming election. Bernard CarrBernard Carr is running as a candidate in the upcoming election. Quarters WardKuljeet Kaur Robinson Kuljeet Kaur Robinson, who works as a mental health nurse in a public hospital, is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Ms Robinson, who migrated to Australia in 2007, runs a not-for-profit called ‘Punjabi Sath Melbourne’.
She also writes poetry in Punjabi and has published five books.
Jagdeep Singh Sukhija
Holt Community Leadership Award recipient Jagdeep Singh Sukhija is running to represent Quarters Ward.
Aftab Hussain
Aftab Hussain is running as an independent candidate in the upcoming council election.
The issues he hopes to address as a councillor include cost of living, improving local parks, fixing potholes and cleaning roads.
Ian Wood
Ian Wood is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
David Rolfe
David Rolfe is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Craig Baird
Craig Baird is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Ridvan Rasimi
Ridvan Rasimi is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
River Gum Ward
Asher Coleman
Asher Coleman is running to represent River Gum Ward on council.
His platform is “integrity” and he hopes to deliver improved community services and promote a healthy environment.
Nazir Yousafi
Nazir Yousafi has lived in the River Gum Ward for almost two decades.
He has worked with organisations that run programs for youth, the disadvantaged and helped to promote gender equality.
He said community safety would be one of his top priorities on council.
Lynette Pereira
Lynette Pereira is running as an independent candidate in the upcoming election.
Geoff Hansen
Geoff Hansen is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Damien Rosario
Damien Rosario is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Wayne Smith
Wayne Smith is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Garry Page
Garry Page is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Tooradin Ward
Anthony Tassone
Local pharmacist and business owner Anthony Tassone is running to represent Tooradin Ward.
He helped negotiate and implement the eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement and held a leadership role in the Victorian Branch of the Pharmacy Guild.
He believes Casey deserves a fresh start and hopes to deliver integrity, accountability and community wellbeing.
Kuldeep Kaur
Registered nurse Kuldeep Kaur is vying to represent her local community on the next Casey City Council.
She has been nominated for the Women of Casey Award and the Holt Community Leadership Award.
Her vision is to promote inclusivity and foster a strong, vibrant and connected community.
Andrew Gai
Andrew Gai has worked in community services for over 14 years.
He described himself as a family man and community advocate and has listed his values as faith, family, service and determination.
He hopes to support local businesses and create more local employment opportunities if he is elected.
Ali Yaghobi
Ali Yaghobi is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Brenton Kelly
Brenton Kelly is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Ravneet Singh
Ravneet Singh is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Waratah Ward
Jamel Kaur Singh
Jamel Kaur Singh is running for the upcoming Casey City Council elections.
She hopes to close the disparity gap in representation and promote better corporate governance, integrity and opportunity.
She said she wanted to listen, understand and act for the people.
Stefan Koomen
Doveton local Stefan Koomen is running to represent Waratah Ward.
Mr Koomen is chair of the Doveton Eumemmerring Township Association and the treasurer of the Doveton Show Committee.
He has worked as a local adviser in the office of Gabrielle Williams, the Labor MP for Doveton, but said he was not running to represent a particularly political party as a councillor.
Nasser Yawari
Nasser Yawari is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Ezatullah Alam
Ezatullah Alam is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
Burak Dilbaz
Burak Dilbaz is running as a candidate in the upcoming election.
