FORMER Leederville-based Greens MP Giz Watson has dubbed Vincent city council a “training ground” for future Labor MPs. The former north metro MLC last week told the Subiaco Post newspaper the Greens are backing 11 candidates across the metro area, helping with training and support, but didn’t say where they’d stand (though Vincent is considered…

A NEW face has emerged amongst the usual suspects running for Perth city council this year, with Curtin university research fellow Jemma Green nominating for councillor. A city resident researching sustainable modular housing and battery technology, she has a background as an investment banker in London, acting “as a portion of the bank’s conscience” in…

BAYSWATER’s Patrick Gong could just be the next Garry Kasparov. Since taking up chess just four years ago, the 16-year-old has won a swathe of state and national tournaments, including the under-16 Australian junior championships and the Perth Open. In July he became the newest candidate master in WA, after a great performance at the…

LEEDERVILLE cafe owner and council critic Debbie Saunders is running for Vincent mayor. She says John Carey doesn’t deserve to be re-elected unopposed. She’s previously clashed with him over the rollout of the bike plan (“a disconnected unused waste of money”) and not renewing former CEO John Giorgi’s contract. Ms Saunders has run the Oxford…

ELEVEN closed shops on a single block in West Perth’s Hay Street shows the area is in dire need of some love, says lord mayoral candidate Reece Harley. Currently the sole candidate for the job — incumbent Lisa Scaffidi hasn’t said whether she’ll seek re-election — the Perth city councillor says much of the council’s…

SIX O’CLOCK council meetings and twin babies don’t mix, says Cr Julia Wilcox, who is standing down from Vincent council in October. Cr Wilcox recently had another child and she says juggling three children under three years old and a tea-time meeting became impossible: “The council meetings are at six o’clock which is a terrible…

MIKE O’HANLON has withdrawn from the race for lord mayor of Perth, throwing his support behind Reece Harley. “The election is a ‘first past the post’ affair and as such, two similar candidates would realistically split the progressive vote in half,” Mr O’Hanlon told his 1100 Facebook supporters on Tuesday. “In doing so, we create…

BAYSWATER police have created a Safer Maylands Facebook page to enlist more locals in the fight against crime. Senior Sergeant Dave Whitnell says they are looking for community leaders to become co-editors of the site and add content. The page includes warnings about recent crimes and tips on crime prevention: “Three reported offences in the…

THE late soccer wunderkind Dylan Tombides has been honoured with a statue outside Perth Oval in East Perth. Tombides died in April last year, aged 20, after losing his battle with testicular cancer. The striker was viewed as a rising star in the game and had joined London EPL club West Ham and been given…

A SHORTFALL of six parking bays is putting in jeopardy plans for a ground-breaking American-style BBQ restaurant in Bayswater. John Earnshaw had planned to open Porkies Barbeque at the corner of Railway Parade and Grand Promenade next month, but council officers say a lack of parking means the application must go out for public consultation.…