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The candidates vying to replace Robert Doyle as Melbourne mayor

Cathy Oke, one of Robert Doyle's accusers, is pictured after an inquiry made four adverse findings.

Cathy Oke, one of Robert Doyle's accusers, is pictured after an inquiry made four adverse findings. Photo: AAP

Fourteen candidates are vying to be the next mayor of Melbourne, months after bombshell sexual harassment claims forced the resignation of Robert Doyle.

Nominations for mayor closed at noon on Tuesday and ballots will be sent out to more than 144,000 voters from April 23, with voting to close on May 11.

The byelection will be fought on promises of a new culture at Town Hall, and of getting the balance right on property developments.

Mr Doyle resigned before an independent investigation made four adverse findings against him. He denies all allegations.

Here are some of the candidates most likely to replace him in the $193,000-a-year job.

Sally Capp

Sally Capp melbourne lord mayor by-election

Sally Capp has taken leave as executive director of the Victorian Property Council. Photo: Facebook

Property Council boss Sally Capp is considered the frontrunner in the race, and bagged the second spot on the ballot paper after nominations closed at noon on Tuesday.

Ms Capp has proposed rolling out countdown timers on pedestrian traffic lights and providing lockers for the homeless.

She has taken leave from her role at the lobby group and will not accept campaign donations from developers.

The New Daily sought comment from Ms Capp.

Rohan Leppert

Greens councillor Rohan Leppert, Ms Capp’s biggest competition, said he will campaign on “getting the balance right” for responsible development.

Rohan Leppert lord mayor

Rohan Leppert has been in Melbourne council since 2012. Photo: Greens

“Our building stock is not high quality and not sustainable enough, and I’m concerned that in 30 years’ time we’re not going to be calling Melbourne a liveable and vibrant and active city,” Cr Leppert told The New Daily.

He committed to overhauling council culture and agreed there was a need for a fresh face. But he said a mayor elected mid-term needed a connection with councillors and an understanding of council process.

“Yes, new thinking is needed, but also an understanding of the culture of the place is just as important.”

The Greens candidate in 2016 polled second behind Mr Doyle, with 21.27 per cent of primary votes, and the federal and state Melbourne electorates have both fallen to the Greens.

Sally Warhaft

Broadcaster and writer Sally Warhaft says she has nominated for mayor to overhaul “a workplace that disrespected women”.

sally warhaft melbourne lord mayor

Sally Warhaft is a broadcaster and writer, with a PhD in anthropology. Photo: Facebook

“It’s a bit like the Australian cricket team. You can’t just get rid of Steve Smith and David Warner and expect the team is going to be just fine with a replacement captain who thinks everything’s cool,” she told The New Daily.

Ms Warhaft – who has a PhD in anthropology, formerly edited The Monthly magazine and does work for The Wheeler Centre and ABC radio – said she would give council a fresh start after “decades of succession of men with the same interests”.

“I offer something different, and it is a background where I am not a lawyer, I am not a trade union official, I’m not a political careerist, I’m not a representative of a developer lobby.”

Ms Warhalf confirmed she opposes the controversial Queen Victoria Market redevelopment.

Jennifer Yang

jennifer yang melbourne lord mayor

Jennifer Yang has run for Labor in the 2014 state and 2016 federal elections. Photo: Jennifer Yang

Jennifer Yang is the former mayor of Manningham and ran as a Labor candidate in the 2014 state and 2016 federal elections.

The only policy listed on her campaign website is banning alcohol from official events for two years and ensuring council is free of harassment and discrimination.

She promises more policies to address homelessness, cut red tape for small businesses and celebrate multiculturalism.

The New Daily contacted Ms Yang for comment.

Other candidates

Phil Cleary, who has campaigned against the Queen Victoria Market redevelopment, confirmed to The New Daily he would not pursue a legal challenge after he was deemed ineligible.

Liberal Party member and former councillor Ken Ong, businessman and pollster Gary Morgan, and Bruce Poon from the Animal Justice Party are also running. The owner of Jimmy Watson’s wine bar, former lord mayor Allan Watson, also nominated.

Former beauty queen Nathalie Nicole O’Sughrue, who works in disability services and is passionate about tackling homelessness, also nominated.

She is a sexual assault survivor but said the allegations against Mr Doyle did not influence her decision to run.

Qun Xie, Luke Downing, Alex MacDonald, Katie Sfetkidis and Michael Burge are other candidates.

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