Jamal Hakim to run for Lord Mayor

A “democratic, welcoming and flourishing city” is the vision Cr Jamal Hakim is striving for after announcing his candidacy for Lord Mayor ahead of the City of Melbourne elections in October.

Cr Hakim’s decision to throw his hat into the ring has raised the stakes for Lord Mayoral favourites in current Lord Mayor Nick Reece and former Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood, who have both already announced their campaigns.

While the weight of the City of Melbourne’s gerrymander, where businesses are each given two votes to residents’ one, will present a challenge for Team Hakim, preferences will prove the key in who ends up in the Lord Mayoral robes.

During his four years on council, Cr Hakim has proven to be an effective and active leader who has regularly engaged with local communities right across the city, which puts him in good stead with the municipality’s many residents.

And this theme was central to his campaign announcement in North Melbourne on August 2, pledging that Team Hakim would “shape a future for Melbourne that prioritises people, not politics”.

“I believe in the power of representation driving real progress for Melbourne,” Cr Hakim said.

Team Hakim has a vision for Melbourne as a democratic, welcoming, and flourishing city. Join us. It’s time to move Melbourne forward.

With a proven track record as a “dedicated, connected and impactful” community leader, Cr Hakim currently leads the council’s Creative Melbourne portfolio and is the deputy lead of the City’s activation and health, wellbeing and belonging portfolios.

Away from council, he runs his own consulting business and is on the board of Democracy in Colour, and served as managing director of Marie Stopes Australia prior to becoming a councillor.

He was previously on the board of Midsumma Festival and served as chair of the finance risk and audit committee for the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM).

Cr Hakim said that with a “democratic Melbourne” at the heart of his campaign for Lord Mayor, he was committed to disclosing all donations, both cash and in-kind, during the course of the campaign, rather than after the elections.

“Donation disclosures are weak, and the Victorian Government has failed to reform legislation governing election donations, despite the recommendations in the Sandton report,” Cr Hakim said.

At the Future Melbourne Committee (FMC) meeting on August 6, Cr Hakim tabled a motion calling on all candidates to do the same.

As per previous elections, Hyperlocal News (publisher of Southbank News) will host a donations register on its website inviting all candidates to declare their donations during the campaign.

While the remainder of his team and policies are yet to be revealed, Cr Hakim pledged $10 million on August 2 for community-led celebrations for Diwali, Eid and Hanukkah as part of his vision for an even more “welcoming” Melbourne.

“We’re a global city. Our community is made up of more than 180 cultures, 150 countries and 80 religions. The city’s major events have contributed significantly to bringing people back into our city, yet the calendar does not reflect our community.” •