Janelle Saffin is in the lead for the seat of Lismore after yesterday’s state election. Although preroll and postal votes are yet to be counted, it’s hard to imagine Saffin’s position changing.
Saffin was joined at the booths on Saturday by her number one PR guy, eight-year-old grandson Gabriel, who had a lot to say about ‘Janelle’.
‘The campaign has been going good. I just went on the microphone. And like, it’s good. I like it.
‘I hope Janelle wins the election. And also, I checked with Harry (Saffin’s staff support, Harry Gregg) and we had 50 votes, and then now we have probably more than 150 votes.
‘She’s gonna do a party at the Lismore City Bowling Club.’
A good feeling of cooperation
Saffin said her morning on the booths had been great. ‘There’s a good feeling of cooperation amongst everybody. We’re all out there, we’re all putting our best foot forward and saying vote for me. But there has been really nice cooperation. It’s been like that in every voting booth.’
Saffin said there was a good feeling of cooperation amongst everybody. Photo Tree Faerie.
Saffin said she felt calm and that she had done everything that she could have possibly done in terms of the campaign. ’It’s now up to our local people. You know, whatever they decide, we accept it. But I have a positive, positive feeling in the community. People are very warm to me – very positive towards me, which is nice. I appreciate it. I really appreciate it.’
Saffin said she had a fairly early start. ‘I reminded Janelle that it was the election day,’ said Gabriel.
Saffin also said that she expected indicative results in the evening. ‘I think we’ll get an idea. We did last time – we had a clear indication. Then it took, another week to do the final count. I think we’ll get there.’
45.40 per cent of the vote
Saffin did get there with 13,404 votes counted by the close, giving her 45.40 per cent of the total. Her nearest rival was the Nationals’ Alex Rubin with 7,680 votes (26.01 per cent) and the Greens Adam Guise with 4,688 votes (15.88 per cent).
Saffin’s strongest results came from the Goonellabah Community Centre and Molesworth Street booths.
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