Pollies get into row over children's centre balloons Kevin Ekendahl and his campaign volunteer, Michael, outside the Bubup Nairm Family and Children's Centre in St Kilda. A STOUSH over balloons at a children's centre has broken out between two Melbourne politicians. On Sunday, Melbourne Ports MP Michael Danby attended the opening of the Bubup Nairm Family and Children's Centre in St Kilda East, but the family event turned sour when children entered the venue carrying blue balloons promoting his competitor, Kevin Ekendahl. Witnesses said Mr Danby lost his cool when he saw the balloons that featured the name and face of his rival for Melbourne Ports, the Liberals' Mr Ekendahl, and stormed out. Former Liberal Party member Adrian Jackson, who attended, said Mr Danby raised his voice at staff and a City of Port Phillip councillor for allowing the children in. He was shouting that it was against protocol for the balloons to have been allowed in the venue and then he stormed off. He was raising his voice and making a scene; he seemed very agitated," Mr Jackson said. Mr Danby's spokeswoman, Tonya Stevens, denied any verbal altercation took place and hit back at the conduct of the Ekendahl camp. There was no verbal altercation with Kevin's campaign team. "It was highly inappropriate for Mr Ekendahl to be campaigning at the event and Mr Danby handled himself with dignity and grace even though he had every right to be upset," Ms Stevens said. Ms Stevens said Mr Danby apologised to a group of childcare workers for Mr Ekendahl campaigning at the event and promptly left after the speeches for another event. City of Port Phillip spokeswoman Sian Whalley said: "Council does not endorse election campaigning at a family and children's open day ... "