With fewer than 100 days to November’s state election, the seat of Melton finally has a second candidate.
Independent Matt Deleon, who stood at the 2010 election, will run in the seat presently held by Labor’s Don Nardella.
Mr Nardella has already announced he will stand again for the seat he has held since 1999.
No Liberal or Greens candidate has yet nominated and Mr Deleon, a Melton resident, said he was nominating because the community needed an alternative to the current member.
The seat includes Melton, Eynesbury and Bacchus Marsh.
“I’m running for the same reasons as I ran in 2010,” he said. “There has been no new major infrastructure or services in Melton or Bacchus Marsh since the election and residents say they feel their area has been neglected.”
The 27-year-old said he had two major campaign focuses, funding for a Melton hospital and duplication of the rail line to Melton.
“I regularly use public transport, so I understand the frustrations,” he said. “To go to university I have to catch a bus to the station then wait 35 minutes for the train.”
Mr Deleon said he would also look at attracting more tourism to Bacchus Marsh, try and help restore education and TAFE funding and look at reducing the cost of living.
Mr Deleon said he was surprised no other candidates had nominated.
“I contacted both the Greens and the Liberals and they said they would both have candidates,” he said.
“It helps me nominating early to get my name out there.”
He said he was looking at getting at least five per cent of the primary vote.
