Swan Hill Rural City Council’s seven new councillors have been revealed, with provisional results announced at the weekend.
Provisional results were announced on Saturday afternoon and the official declaration will be made on Wednesday at the Swan Hill Town Hall chamber at 12 noon.
Most recent mayor Les McPhee was swept in with an absolute majority after he collected 77.77 per cent of the first preference votes (1186 first preference votes) in the Lakes Ward.
His challenger, Allen Ridgeway (339), failed to convince constituents.
Murray-Mallee Ward incumbent Gary Norton was re-elected after distribution of preferences against challenger Gregg Cook. Mr Norton received 711 first preference votes, while Mr Cook received 463. Barry Waylen (308) received 20.78 per cent of the first preference votes.
After distribution, Mr Norton received 839 votes (56.61 per cent of votes after distribution) to Mr Cook’s 643 (43.39 per cent).
There were visible nerves as four out of 10 Central Ward candidates and their family and friends gathered at the Victorian Electoral Office at the Town Hall at 6pm on Saturday for the computerised count.
Coincidentally, the four who attended, Chris Jeffery, Ann Young, Lea Johnson and Bill Moar, were elected onto council for the new four-year term.
Mr Jeffery was first candidate successful after collecting a staggering 1140 first preference votes (18.31 per cent of the first preference votes), followed by Ms Young (931), Ms Johnson (913) and Mr Moar (850).
All four Central Ward positions were vacant after Jessie Kiley, Jim Crowe and Greg Cruickshank declined to re-stand.
Former mayor Michael Adamson resigned from his post earlier this year.
Meanwhile, John Katis returned unopposed as Robinvale Ward councillor.
In total, 9,531 ballots were counted for the Swan Hill council election, with 12,635 enrolled to vote in local government elections.
Buloke Shire Council’s last term deputy mayor David Pollard has been re-elected, collecting nearly 45 per cent of the first preference votes in the Lower Avoca ward, joined by John Shaw.
Ellen White in Mallee ward and Graeme Milne in Mount Jeffcott ward have also retained their seats.
They are joined by David Vis (Mallee), and Daryl Warren and Carolyn Stewart (Mount Jeffcott).
In the neighbouring Gannawarra shire, Charlie Gillingham claimed more than 80 per cent of the first preference votes in Avoca ward against Rodney Hibbet, while Steven Tasker took Murray with a little over 55 per cent of the first preference votes.
Brian Gibson and Mark Arians have been re-elected in Patchell ward, alongside Jodie Basile.
Yarran ward candidate Lorraine Learmonth has retained her spot on council but there has been no such luck for Neville Goulding, who will be replaced by Sonia Wright.
For full local council election coverage, grab a copy of Monday’s edition of The Guardian (October 31).
