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Editorial Comment

Christian values and Local Politics!

We note that Alan Clausen of Ashwood, in his Letter to the (Leader newspaper) Editor has “followed with interest” the Leader’s articles on the conflict between Councillor Solity and several other Monash Councillors.

He refers to Councillor Solity standing up and walking out when Councillor Banerji was elected Deputy Mayor. Clausen is very selective with the facts. The fact he omitted is this: Councillor Solity agreed to vote for Councillor Dimopoulos for Mayor in exchange for his support for her nomination for Deputy Mayor. Immediately after his election as Mayor, he reneged on this agreement, and so did the other Labor Councillors, Banerji and Lake. We believe there is a serious question of integrity in this action, and further, believe that it is of the utmost importance that all Councillors act with integrity at all times. Especially the Mayor.

But this sort of action is typical of what these Councillors do on a routine basis. They have continued to badger and harass Cr Solity throughout this term of Council, including personal attacks. Interestingly, Councillor Solity is a member of the Labor Party. But obviously not of the same faction as this group that controls Council. Although we are an apolitical organisation, we did not think Labor members were supposed to attack their own in public!

Councillor Solity has been unfortunate to have lost two close members of her family in recent times, and as a result is vulnerable to personal attack, as most people in her circumstance would be. She is however, of the utmost integrity and is dedicated to the best interests of the ratepayers and residents of her Ward and the City of Monash as a whole. Above all, she is her own person –which must really goad the councillors who attack her.

To us, to attack someone while they are down and vulnerable is the utmost act of cowardice, and un-Christian.

Clausen’s motives are questionable to us. He is a member of the Bennettswood Branch of the Labor Party, which meets at the Uniting Church in Essex Road, Mount Waverley. We believe he has links, (whether directly or indirectly), to the very Councillors who are attacking Cr Solity, and question whether his actions are impartial or objective. Especially since the only Council meeting we are aware that he has attended in recent times was the mayoral election late last year!

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