From behind the NT News paywall. PLEASE NOTE, this is direct from NT News, not my words.
Eight candidates are confirmed in the contest for Chan ward at the May 30 City of Darwin by-election.
They are Manik Gowda, Nick Kirlew, Annette Gillanders, Clarence CJ McCarthy-Grogan, Mirella Fejo, Lenny, Shiva Panchalingam and Steve Doherty.
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Ed Smelt from council following his victory in the NT seat of Nightcliff, joining Territory Labor in parliament.
For some voters in the ward – which spans Ludmilla, East Point, Fannie Bay, Nightcliff, Coconut Grove, Millner, Rapid Creek and Jingili – it will mark their fifth election in less than two years.
Mr Gowda is chief financial officer at Larrakia Nation, and has campaigned on priorities including improved lighting, better pedestrian access, safer roads, more trees, shaded walkways and upgraded parks.
Mr Kirlew is an IT manager whose pitch to voters highlights three priorities: more community consultation, transparency, and protecting heritage and open spaces from privatisation or overdevelopment.
Ms Gillanders is co-director of business consulting service Biznorth. Her tagline promises she is “ready to get things done for Chan Ward, because community matters”.
Mr McCarthy-Grogan is an Aboriginal support worker at a primary school, and has represented Australia in wheelchair basketball.
The son of Labor minister Malarndirri McCarthy, Mr McCarthy-Grogan’s plan for Chan ward includes lighting at Fannie Bay Oval, improved accessibility and safety on Progress Drive, and building a basketball court at Jingili Water Gardens.
Larrakia elder Ms Fejo is a senior public servant with the National Disability Insurance Agency.
She was a City of Darwin councillor for Waters Ward last year, but lost the role at the August local government elections.
Ms Fejo said she believed Chan ward could grow without “losing what makes (it) special…from our foreshore to our markets, to our trees, and parks”.
Lenny – a teacher who goes by the one name – is advocating for fixing footpaths, transparency and community consultation, and a water-efficient sprinkler system for public green spaces.
Mr Panchalingam is a community development worker and said he was running to be “a strong, genuine voice for our community”.
Mr Doherty lives and works in an Aboriginal community in Darwin as a liaison and consultant, and was previously vice-president of the Country Liberal Party.
Early voting in the by-election commences on Saturday, May 23, at Rapid Creek Business Village, 48 Trower Road, Rapid Creek.
Voting on election day, Saturday, May 30, will be at Nightcliff High School, 90 Aralia Street, Nightcliff.