13/11/2025
Mayor caught drink-driving, won't stand for re-election
Macedon Ranges mayor Dom Bonanno has lost his driver’s licence after being caught speeding and drink driving in the mayoral car last month.
Police said Cr Bonanno was pulled over on McGeorge Road in Gisborne South about 8.15pm on Friday, October 31. He returned a positive roadside breath test and was taken to a local station, where an evidentiary test allegedly returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.087.
His licence will be disqualified for six months from the end of November.
In a public statement issued on Wednesday, Cr Bonanno took full responsibility for what he described as a “major lapse in judgement”.
“I appreciate that my family, fellow councillors, council staff and the community put their trust in me, which I have breached, for which I sincerely apologise,” he said.
“I can’t turn the clock back, but I will work each day to rebuild this trust over the months and years ahead.
I am very disappointed in myself, and I have always strived to be a good councillor and mayor, to listen and to strongly represent our residents and broader community.”
Cr Bonanno said he had since returned the mayoral vehicle and it was neither impounded nor damaged during the incident.
The Express received an anonymous tipoff regarding Cr Bonanno's actions and approached council CEO Bernie O’Sullivan at a public event a day before the mayor’s announcement to confirm whether the allegations were true.
Mr O’Sullivan responded, “I can’t comment on that. Where did you hear that?”
The following day, the Express emailed the council requesting a statement from Cr Bonanno. Six hours later, his public apology was published online.
Cr Bonanno has since taken personal leave and is expected to return on Tuesday, November 25, for the annual council meeting to elect the mayor. He confirmed he would not seek re-election to the position.
VIC POLICE STATEMENT
"Officers were conducting patrols of Gisborne South when they intercepted a vehicle on 31 October about 8.15pm. Police conducted a preliminary breath test on the driver, which returned a positive result. The driver, an 49-year-old Gisborne South man, accompanied police to a local station and underwent an evidentiary breath test where he returned an alleged reading of 0.087. The man received infringement notices for drink driving and other traffic offences."
