A long-time Kinglake resident, wife and mother-of-two will run as an independent candidate for Eildon in this year’s State Election.
Michelle Dunscombe announced she’d joined the race against Liberal incumbent Cindy McLeish and Australian Labor Party (ALP) candidate Sally Brennan.
The Eildon electorate takes in almost 100 towns across four local government areas, covering 10,027 square kilometres from Tolmie in the north to Powelltown in the south, Strath Creek in the west and Mount Buller in the east.
Ms Dunscombe said she made her decision with support from family, friends and many community members.
“I love our region and feel that the ordinary voice has been lost in politics,” she said.
She said a recent speech from the first female president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, inspired her, as did Indi MP Cathy McGowan’s 2013 and 2016 campaigns, and “the wise words” of Victorian Women’s Trust CEO Mary Crooks at the recent Murrindindi Women’s Forum.
Ms Dunscombe said she’d watched other independent politicians succeed in state and federal parliaments, and it was time for more to be elected to represent their communities.
“As an independent candidate my responsibility is to the people of the Eildon electorate,” she said.
“I am not bound by party politics.
“I can work with all sides and will always represent the best interests of our electorate.”
