Frank Deutsch elected to Ararat Rural City Council

Just two candidates stood for election with Mr Deutsch successful after his third attempt in as many years.

Mr Deutsch polled an absolute majority (more than 50 percent of first preferences) with 3445 votes (51.08%) compared to rival Michael Russell who received 3299 (48.92%).

He said he felt happy and humbled by the opportunity to serve the people of the Ararat Rural City.

"I will do my very best to do what I have promised to do for the ratepayers of Ararat," he said.

That promise is to continue work to reduce the rate burden faced by residents across the municipality.

Mr Deutsch founded the Ararat Rural City Ratepayers' Association four years ago and has been outspoken in his condemnation of recent rate rises.

"I don't want to see any rate rise this year what so ever," he said.

"I don't know how much clout I will have as one councillor compared to the others, but that is what I will be pushing for."

Mr Deutsch conceded a rate rise of at least two and a half percent was likely in the forthcoming 2015/16 Budget, but said he would fight any moves by council to make it higher.

"Rates should be reduced, but at least if I can't achieve that I can work to ensure they stay as low as is humanely possible," he said.

"I will fight tooth and nail for rates to go no higher than two and a half percent."

Mr Deutsch said recent council initiated rate rises that went above and beyond five percent have cost the municipality.

"The rate rises that have occurred over the last four years are not sustainable for anybody," he said.

"People have been leaving this town because they can not afford to live here.

“High rates have an adverse impact on the population and business. 

“Ararat Rural City has lots of potential and council has done some great things here, however the cost of having some of those things happening is, in my opinion, not worth it.”

Mr Deutsch said there were a number of other issues he would seek to address including the condition of rural roads, but his main priority was lowering rate rises. 

“I am not here to destroy anything, I am not here to force my way, not that I would be able to in any case,” he said.

“I am just looking forward to working with everybody, I want us to work together for the benefit of all of the ratepayers, for the farmers and for the people living in town.” 

Ararat Rural City CEO Andrew Evans said it would be nice to once again see a full chamber of councillors.

“Franz has been watching council with some interest for some time, I’m hoping that means we might have a smooth transition into a functioning council,” he said.

“We have in the past had some rocky times and we don’t want to re-visit those, we want to move into the future and now is a very good time for that given the budgets that we are currently developing and some of the capital projects that we have on the books. 

“It will be an interesting and challenging time for Franz to come on to council.” 

Fellow councillor Glenda McLean said she welcomed Mr Deutsch’s election to council 

“Franz is fearless and I think he will bring quite a lot to council,” she said.

“Because of Franz’s role with the ratepayers association he has done a lot of homework on the rates.

“He hasn’t been inside the tent, so-to-speak, to see how council operates and what the challenges and pressures are on council operations, but he has a view and I think that he can add another dimension to that debate.” 

A total of 6,744 formal votes were polled at this year’s Ararat Rural City by-election, a further 324 were informal. 

Mr Deutsch joins six existing councillors Paul Hooper, Gwenda Allgood, Glenda McLean, Fay Hull, Gary Hull and Colin McKenzie.

Ararat Rural City is unsubdivided and includes the towns of Pomonal, Elmhurst, Moyston, Ararat, Warrak, Buangor, Maroona, Willaura, Mininera, Wickliffe, Lake Bolac, Westmere and Streatham.