LONG-TIME Labor Party member Cr James Dooley has let his party membership lapse and has decided he can best represent Frankston as an independent councillor.
The North-West Ward councillor said it is vital to be able to speak to both sides of politics to get the best possible outcomes for Frankston.
“I need to be able to talk to both sides and they need to know they’re not going to be compromised when they talk to me [but] I need to be very frank and fearless in what I say and not have to worry about other agendas and all that stuff.
“It’s really about doing the best for the people of Frankston.”
Cr Dooley missed out on pre-selection to Paul Edbrooke as Labor’s candidate to contest last November’s state election after initial candidate Helen Constas dropped out amid revelations that bullying allegations against Constas by a former work colleague had been settled out of court.
Former firefighter Paul Edbrooke was a surprise candidate out of left field and narrowly won the seat of Frankston for Labor in November.
Mr Edbrooke’s former Labor comrade Cr Dooley noted the state government has not yet allocated money for major Frankston projects such as the train station precinct redevelopment in forward budget plans.
He hopes major progress on the $63 million redevelopment of the station and Young St can be seen soon.
