Candidate for Footscray

Endorsed candidate announcement

Voices of the Inner West of Melbourne is delighted to endorse Jess Marsh as our Community Independent candidate for Footscray.  To find out more about Jess, her priorities, and how to support the campaign, sign up directly to her website: jessmarsh.com.au 

To get to the point of endorsing Jess we listened to hundreds of local people through deep kitchen table conversations, an online survey, one-on-one meetings and in-person  ‘ping pong’ surveys. We developed a Community Listening report and then sought to find a candidate who would represent local community priorities.

We undertook a rigorous candidate selection process, starting with advertising for expressions of interest, providing a candidate information pack and inviting community members to be on a selection panel. The panel comprised eight community members who came from the local businesses, community services and development, local sporting clubs, education and not-for-profit advocacy.

Candidates were short-listed and probity checks were conducted. Candidates were then interviewed by the selection panel and assessed against both quantitative and qualitative selection criteria prior to selection. Jess was then recommended as the endorsed candidate.

As is typical for Voices groups, the focus now transitions to Jess’s campaign. Some of us are keen to volunteer in Jess’s campaign while others will take a lower profile to stay in touch and take a breather until closer to the next election opportunity (local, state or federal). Voices are thrilled that for the first time, Footscray has the opportunity for representation that reflects local community priorities, with evidence-based policy development based on listening first.