Heathdale’s Three-Horse Race

Residents in Wyndham’s Heathdale Ward will soon have their say in a council by-election, with voters set to choose who will fill the vacancy left by former mayor Jennie Barrera.

Cr Barrera resigned on 1 May, the same day the Victorian Government appointed municipal monitors to oversee Wyndham City Council amid ongoing governance concerns.

The contest has attracted three candidates: former mayor Kim McAliney, former councillor Marcel Mahfoud and newcomer Pippa Pace.

Voting will be conducted entirely by post, with ballot packs mailed to enrolled voters from 13 July. Completed ballots must be returned by 6pm on 31 July.

Residents who moved within or out of Heathdale Ward after the electoral roll closed on 20 May are still required to vote and may face a fine if they fail to do so.

Pippa Pace: The Fresh Face in the Race

Fresh face Pippa Pace is hoping to bring a new voice to Wyndham City Council, running on a platform focused on community connection, inclusion and grassroots advocacy.

A First Nations woman, mother of three and long-time community advocate, Ms Pace says her lived experience has shaped her understanding of the challenges facing many Wyndham families.

Her background includes work across the disability, youth justice, child and family welfare, foster care and family violence sectors. She says those experiences have given her first-hand insight into systemic gaps and the importance of accessible support services.

Ms Pace describes herself as a strong believer in community-led decision making, with a leadership style centred on transparency, accountability, empathy and action.

If elected, she says she would prioritise support for young people and families, greater representation for minority and migrant communities, improvements to community safety and wellbeing, and investment in local facilities and public spaces.

As the only newcomer in the three-candidate field, Ms Pace is pitching herself as a fresh perspective for Heathdale Ward, arguing that local voices should play a greater role in shaping council decisions.

Marcel Mahfoud: Trying Hand at Third Term

Unlike Ms Pace, Marcel Mahfoud is no stranger to Wyndham City Council.

Mr Mahfoud previously served as a councillor from 2010 to 2012 in the former Chaffey Ward before returning to council in 2020, where he served until the 2024 local government elections.

A well-known figure in Wyndham’s community sector, he is a former president of the Weerama Festival and has also held positions on the boards of local schools, giving him long-standing ties to a range of community organisations across the municipality.

Mr Mahfoud is campaigning on his experience and knowledge of local government, arguing that his previous time around the council table gives him a strong understanding of the challenges facing Wyndham and how decisions are made.

With two terms of council experience behind him and a lengthy history of community involvement, Mr Mahfoud is seeking a return to Wyndham City Council as Heathdale Ward’s representative.

Kim McAliney: From Headlines to Heathdale

Former mayor Kim McAliney is the most experienced candidate in the Heathdale by-election and one of the most recognisable figures in Wyndham politics.

Ms McAliney first served on Wyndham City Council from 2005 to 2012, including terms as mayor in 2008 and 2012. She later returned to council in 2016 and remained in office until her resignation in June 2020.

Across more than a decade on council, she was involved in major decisions during a period of rapid growth that transformed Wyndham into one of Australia’s largest municipalities.

In recent years, Ms McAliney has remained a regular voice in local political debate and has frequently clashed with former mayor Josh Gilligan, with the pair engaging in a series of public disputes played out through local media and social media.

One of those disputes culminated in February when Cr Gilligan was suspended from office for one month after an independent arbiter found he had engaged in misconduct over a Facebook post targeting Ms McAliney.

Now seeking a return to the council chamber, Ms McAliney is hoping her experience and familiarity with local government will resonate with Heathdale voters.