dˈaʊlɪŋ kəntˈɛstᵻd ðə tˈuː θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪt mjuːnˈɪsɪpəl ᵻlˈɛkʃənz fɚðə sˈɪɾi ʌv pˈoːɹt fˈɪlɪp, bˌʌt wʌz dᵻfˈiːɾᵻd baɪ fˈɔːɹmɚ pˈoːɹt fˈɪlɪp mˈeɪɚ dʒˈænɪt bəlˈɪθoʊ.
Dowling contested the 2008 municipal elections for the City of Port Phillip, but was defeated by former Port Phillip mayor Janet Bolitho.