Former Mandurah mayor Marina Vergone speaks out on council elections defeat

Ms Vergone said she felt constantly abused throughout the campaign period, which left her exhausted. 

“If I knew I was going to go through what I did I wouldn’t have run,” she said.

“It was an absolutely horrible, nasty toxic election, I was getting abused for everything.

“We are not policy makers, and this election was run like I was running to be Prime Minister, it was crazy.”

Although she admitted to being a Liberal supporter, Ms Vergone, who was accused of bringing party politics to local government, said she didn’t let politics interfere with the election campaign.

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However, she admitted she should’ve “walked away” when member for Canning Andrew Hastie started campaigning in favour of the proposed Lakelands train station and said Mr Hastie could’ve damaged her campaign. 

“Andew Hastie did not do me any favours at all, I think it could’ve [damaged my campaign] because some of the things that he said and did didn’t help me at all,” she said.

“He almost threw me under the bus.

“In hindsight, I should’ve walked away, I guess the timing of it all it was politicised, but that was before the campaign started.” 

Despite all the negativity surrounding the campaign, Ms Vergone said she is ready to step out of politics and get on with her life. 

However, life won’t be about cutting ribbons, attending shows and speaking at public events any longer.

For Ms Vergone, it will be about playing golf, getting into shape, building up the family business and spending time with her children.

“I’m just Marina Vergone, mother, wife, business owner, and I am enjoying that,” she said.

“No regrets at all and quite a relief now that it’s all over.”

Looking back on her time as Mandurah’s mayor, Ms Vergone, who decided to run for council six years ago to reverse the traffic flow on Mandurah Terrace, said the job had been a constant learning experience.

According to Ms Vergone, some of the highlights during her time in the role included opening the redevelopment of the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre and seeing the upgrade of the Mandurah foreshore. 

“It was such a big learning curve for me, outside of my comfort zone in a lot of areas but as the years went on I really grew into the role,” she said.

“I certainly gained a lot of confidence in myself as well and I just love that I got to meet so many beautiful people and got to see so many things around Mandurah that normally I just wouldn’t.”

Although she said she had received offers to run as a state or federal politician, Ms Vergone said her time in politics was done and she was looking forward to going back to accounting. 

“All in all I’ve really enjoyed my experience of being the mayor, it was an honour, I loved Mandurah before, I love it even more now,” she said. 

“I look forward to seeing Rhys do well in the role as mayor because I have to live here too.”