Local government elections in Mandurah have been marred by unauthorised campaign material targeting Mayor Marina Vergone appearing throughout the City on Saturday.
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Professionally printed signs were posted on Mandurah Terrace and Pinjarra Road accusing Mayor Vergone of lying about her record in office and being “politically involved with the Liberal party”.
A banner was hung prominently from the Mandurah Pedestrian Bridge urging motorists to “Vote No for Mayor Vergone” and labelling the bridge a “waste of rate payers [sic] money”.
Mayor Vergone said it was gut-wrenching that she had been targeted in the illegal material.
“It’s local government, it’s not federal politics,” she said.
“It’s a personal attack, but it’ll just make me stronger. I’m not backing down.”
Mayor Vergone denied she was a Liberal party candidate and said she had not brought party politics into the City of Mandurah campaign.
“I’ve not brought politics into it, they have,” she said.
Returning officer Ian Frame said on Monday morning he had not received any complaints about the material, but it is understood City of Mandurah rangers had been removing it.
Distributing unauthorised election material is an offence under the Local Government Act.
The last day for voting is October 21.