Policies Seen as the front-runner because of her solid CV and well-organised campaign that also appears to be quite well-funded – although she says that the money has been coming from her family, friends and personal supporters and that she is not taking donations from property developers. She nominates a greener and cleaner Melbourne, better transport, tackling homelessness with four new accommodation centres and extra funding, and city safety as key policies. She supports the Queen Victoria Market Renewal largely in the format left by former lord mayor Robert Doyle, with some minor changes. Other serious candidates have all preferenced away from Capp. The young man in a hurry Rohan Leppert. Credit:Justin McManus Name Rohan Leppert

Rohan Leppert Age 33

33 Party affiliation The Greens

The Greens Odds $3.50 Recent history A sitting Melbourne councillor, elected in 2012. Lives in Kensington, he has been an effective deputy chair of planning for the council since 2016. Has spent much time since Christmas opposing the Andrews government's plan to knock down part of Federation Square and build an Apple mega-store. Will be the second-youngest lord mayor Melbourne has elected if he wins. Backed by former lord mayor Lecki Ord.

Policies Largely seen as most likely to be elected if Capp fails, Leppert says the city’s growth – faster than at any time since the gold rush – is a key challenge. Has voted for the Queen Victoria Market redevelopment, but says if elected lord mayor he will work with traders and the community to retain the market’s grittiness and heritage. Key policies include development of more “sustainable” buildings and “not a glut of poor quality shoebox apartments”, affordable housing, better footpaths – including the closure of Chinatown to all vehicles except deliveries – and more childcare and aged care. Has directed his preferences to Sally Warhaft and Labor’s Jennifer Yang. The millionaire businessman Ken Ong. Name Ken Ong

Ken Ong Age 59

59 Party affiliation Liberal Party

Liberal Party Odds $9.00 Recent history A businessman who made millions from developing and running childcare centres in middle and outer Melbourne with his late wife, Ong was on the city council for eight years until 2016. Ran against Robert Doyle in 2016. Born in Malaysia to Chinese parents, Ong is an engineer who now runs a brewery in Brunswick. The chair of planning as a councillor, he understands city development well. Has received support from former lord mayor John So.

Policies Will completely overhaul the city’s planning rules if elected lord mayor, and specifically improve the city’s footpaths from becoming hard to navigate due to the booming Melbourne population. Says the city needs to emerge from crisis after Doyle’s departure – “I don’t bring scandals into things,” he said this week – and that the focus on city safety should be improved by more CCTV cameras. A friend of another candidate, Labor’s Jennifer Yang, for 25 years, he has asked that anyone who votes for him gives their second preferences to her. The committed broadcaster Sally Warhaft. Credit:Justin McManus Name Sally Warhaft

Sally Warhaft Age 48

48 Party affiliation Independent

Independent Odds $26.00 Recent history Best known as a regular broadcaster on the ABC and as the former editor of The Monthly magazine, Warhaft is also a regular presenter at the Wheeler Centre, a literary and publishing hub. Did a PhD in anthropology in the sprawling city of Mumbai (population 18 million), and focused on building communities.

Policies Stridently opposed to redevelopment of the Queen Victoria Market. Seen as only an outside chance at winning because her campaign is largely unfunded. But Ms Warhaft says it is time for a woman to lead Town Hall after almost 30 years of men wearing the mayoral chains. She has also said the “toxic culture” at Town Hall that led to the departure of Doyle needs to be addressed. And she has called for the creation of a “night tsar” to specifically work with the city’s booming after-dark economy, including bars, residents, clubs and other businesses open overnight. Warhaft says Melbourne isn’t providing enough affordable housing but is allowing too many “shoddy, two bedroom-apartment towers” to be built. The Labor outsider Jennifer Yang. Credit:Justin McManus Name Jennifer Yang

Jennifer Yang Age 41

41 Party affiliation Labor

Labor Odds $21.00 Recent history Twice the mayor of Manningham Council, Yang was initially approached by Capp’s backers to run as a “dummy” candidate feeding preferences to Capp. But she has since emerged as a serious candidate with an organised campaign run by a former aide to Bill Shorten.

Policies Yang has also promised to also address cultural issues at Town Hall that led to Doyle’s departure, and and said she will ban all alcohol for councillors while on Town Hall business. She has said she will back a feasibility study for a waste-to-energy centre at Fishermans Bend. Yang wants to see the council double pensioner rates rebate and put more money into resident-led local park upgrades. She also said she would “cut red tape” for retailers and restaurants by abolishing unnecessary council licenses, freeze all rates until 2020, and immediately commence a council-wide expenditure review. To tackle homelessness, Yang wants to build permanent a new crisis accommodation centre to get rough sleepers off the streets. Has also received backing from former mayor John So. The three-time loser Gary Morgan. Credit:Jesse Marlow Name Gary Morgan

Gary Morgan Age 76

76 Party affiliation Independent

Independent Odds $17.00 Recent history The East Melbourne resident, pollster and businessman runs Roy Morgan, Australia’s oldest consumer research company. Morgan has run for lord mayor for the past three elections against Robert Doyle. He has not come close to getting elected but candidates on his “team” have been elected as councillors each time.

Policies Says he will push for the extension of Melbourne’s free tram area beyond the immediate city centre if he is elected lord mayor, and says he will have “zero tolerance” for drug dealers, “street gangs” and graffiti. Also argues that “state-of-the-art” traffic controls must be introduced into the CBD to reduce car and bike traffic congestion and make travel safer. However at this election, Morgan’s main push is to stop the current Queen Victoria Market “mega” redevelopment at any cost, and has backed Sally Warhaft as the only other candidate fighting to do much the same thing. The rest of the field Luke Downing ($34.00)

($34.00) Alex MacDonald ($81.00)

($81.00) Allan Watson ($67.00)

($67.00) Katie Sfetkidis ($34.00)

($34.00) Nathalie O'Sughrue ($51.00)

($51.00) Michael Burge ($23.00)

($23.00) Bruce Poon ($67.00)

($67.00) Qun Xie ($67.00)