Tina Theodossopoulou is among the ten candidates nominated for the Mulgrave District by-election on Saturday, November 18.

The Melbourne south-east seat has been left vacant following the retirement of Daniel Andrews as Premier, leader of the Victorian Labor Party, and member for Mulgrave, which took effect in late September.

Running as an independent candidate, Tina (Fotini) Theodossopoulou told Neos Kosmos that she decided out of concern for “the direction of our City and State at large.”

“We see our precious democratic values being eroded before our very eyes.

“There is obvious corruption and financial waste within our system. This carelessness with money ultimately leads to the introduction of further taxation policies such as Land Tax and Inheritance Tax, which will further impose a cost of living pressures on families.”

The mother of two, who works as a family business owner in the residential construction field, says she is a “big proponent of family values” and states her belief in “policies that facilitate accountability” alongside a focus on sustainability with “slow and logical transition and initiatives towards a better way of living”.

“I honestly believe that democratic values and sustainability can co-exist harmoniously. We need not sacrifice one set of beliefs to help facilitate the other.”

At the close of rolls on Monday, October 30, 47,142 Mulgrave voters were enrolled to return to the state polls for the second time in a year.

While Labor holds the seat on a 10.8 per cent margin, Mr Andrews Had suffered a 4.9 per cent swing against him in November 2022 after being challenged by independent Ian Cook.

The candidates announced on Thursday, November 2, by the Victorian Electoral Commission in ballot order are:

Ethelyn King (Libertarian)
Celeste Ackerly (Sustainable Australia Party)
Ian Cook (Independent)
Jane Foreman (Family First Victoria)
Courtney Mann (Liberal)
Kelly Cvetkova (Victorian Socialists)
Rhonda Garad (Greens)
Eden Foster (Australian Labor Party)
Tina Theodossopoulou (Independent)
Bronwyn Currie (Animal Justice Party)
Early voting opened on Wednesday, November 8, and postal voting applications are open until 6 pm on Wednesday, November 15.

Voting booths are open 8 am-6 pm on election day, Saturday, November 18.