Former Liberal candidate charged enrolling unwitting person to run

Mr Bauch, who could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, will face Werribee Magistrates Court next month on four charges of making or using a false document.

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ jail.

The charges follow a Local Government Inspectorate’s report into the Wyndham Council elections that found two of the candidates interviewed were unaware they had nominated for council.

Mr Bauch is the fourth Wyndham candidate charged over the 2016 council elections.

Also charged was current councillor Intaj Khan, who in July was convicted at Sunshine Magistrates Court and fined $23,000. The Age revealed  serious concerns over Cr Khan ahead of the 2016 council elections.

John Frost, another candidate who ran for Wyndham Council in 2016, said the election fallout was disheartening.

"I'm just a local dad, coach of the footy side, CFA volunteer, who thought I'd give it a shot running for council. So to see 41 candidates want to run in my ward, and see the donkey votes get up, has just made a joke of the whole system," he said.

Mr Bauch was a long-time Liberal Party member, though it is not clear if he remains one. In 2010 he ran as the Liberal candidate for the state seat of Niddrie and the federal seat of Jagajaga.

In July, he was photographed at a party fundraiser with Opposition Leader Matthew Guy, party state president Michael Kroger, multicultural affars spokeswoman Inga Peulich and others.