FORMER Frankston mayor Christine Richards has announced a late bid for a spot in the Senate.
Richards was a last-minute addition to the ballot for this weekend’s federal election. She has joined Susan Benedyka on the ticket, a founding member of Voices of Indi.
Richards said she won’t get enough votes to win but hopes to increase the chances of Benedyka being elected “in a system that’s biased against independent voices”.
“Our personal philosophies and public policies align,” Richards said of her running mate. “We support climate change action, help for people affected by drought and natural disasters, increased funding for the CSIRO, renewable energy, a federal ICAC, improving Centrelink payments, better planning, and making our politics less divisive.”
The ex-mayor has had careers in law, media and government. She was on Frankston Council between 2008 and 2012, and was mayor in 2009.
Another former Frankston councillor, Rebekah Spelman, is on the ballot for the United Australia Party in the seat of Aston. The electorate is currently held by Liberal MP Alan Tudge.
