"Obviously anyone would be concerned about a [finding] such as this, however I still maintain I did nothing wrong and my actions had no bearing on the contract [in question]," Cr Bradford said.

An Ombudsman's report tabled in State Parliament last Thursday found Cr Bradford had improperly called a local newspaper editor last August to pass on the results of tender bids to sponsor the MRA Cranbourne GP run.

"This is apparently inconsistent with his obligations pursuant to ... the Local Government Act and the councillors' code of conduct," Ombudsman George Brouwer stated in the report.

Casey became aware that information had been passed on when just minutes after the decision, Leader newspaper editor Peter Strachan inadvertently copied a council employee into an email to newspaper staff, which read: "Our man's just come back to us. Says we've gone in too high with that $2400 and at this stage we've lost out to The Star [local newspaper group]."

While conceding he had called the editor, Cr Bradford said he only spoke generally and presumed news of the decision to award the contract to Star had already been passed on by Casey.

Mayor Lorraine Wreford announced she would call a special council meeting to discuss the issue. "Given the serious nature of the apparent breach of the Local Government Act, I believe Cr Bradford should stand down immediately as a councillor until all of the relevant legal processes have been completed." Opposition local government spokeswoman Jeanette Powell said: "[Premier] John Brumby must sack Cr Bradford for abusing his position on council and breaching the Local Government Act.

"The Brumby Government increased the penalty only last year for this serious breach of the act to $60,000 or five years' imprisonment, which now disqualifies a councillor from their duties," she said.