A WAKOOL businessman with links to the Deniliquin Nationals Branch has been elected unopposed to Wakool Shire Council, on a platform to stop the proposed amalgamation with Murray Shire.
Wakool Shire Council held by-elections for new representatives in the B and C Wards last Wednesday after they were left vacant by Anthony Jackson and Colin Membrey respectively, who both resigned from council last December.
Wakool businessman David Landini ran unopposed for the B Ward role, having been the only person nominated for it before the nomination deadline.
Two applications were received for the C Ward position, however an error in the nomination process led the Electoral Commission to declare both of them invalid.
The council has recommenced a C Ward by-election process with dates for nominations and voting to be released in coming weeks.
Councillors opted to hold the by-elections at an extraordinary council meeting at the end of December, despite being advised not to by the Office of Local Government (OLG).
The OLG said it would be pointless to hold any by-elections, as the council was likely to be placed under administration in May as part of the process to amalgamate with neighbouring Murray Shire.
For more on this story, grab a copy of Wednesday’s Guardian (February 10).
