While we still await the final outcome of the Kyogle Shire Council election the vote is on for the referendum on whether they should elect their mayor by popular vote or the mayor should be elected by councillors as was the status quo.
Kyogle voters were asked:
‘Do you favour the election of the Mayor by electors for a four (4) year term with the number of Wards reduced from three (3) to two (2), each Ward comprising of four (4) Councillors, plus a popularly elected Mayor?’
Of the 62 per cent of voters voted in favour of keeping the mayor elected by the councillors with 5,538 votes cast. 3,472 voted ‘No’ and 2,066 voted ‘Yes’ with 192 informal votes.
Kyogle Council elections
The Kyogle council local government area (LGA) is split into three voting wards with each ward electing three councillors and the final positions for each ward will be decided when voting is complete at the end of this month.
Ward A currently has Brett McNamara sitting at 31 per cent of the vote followed by Kieran Sommerville at 25 per cent and sitting councillor Janet Wilson at 18 per cent. The final two candidates are Doug Layton at 13 per cent and Naomi Worrall at ten per cent.
Ward B had five candidates running for election and saw Olivia Taylor take out the most votes at 34 per cent followed by sitting councillors John Burley at 24 per cent and Robert Cullen at 19 per cent. They were followed by Neil Summerville at 14 per cent and Glenn Robinson at six per cent.
Ward C had the most candidates contesting with seven candidates running for the three positions. Sitting councillor and former mayor Danielle Mulholland took out the most first preference votes with 41 per cent of the vote and is the only candidate that has clearly made it back onto council on behalf of Ward C. She was followed by fellow sitting councillor Tom Cooper who received 22 per cent of the vote. Then the fight is on between Robin Harley with 12 per cent and sitting councillor James Murray with 11 per cent where preferences will determine who gets the third position for Ward C. Earl Grundy received 6 per cent of the vote, Simon Dejoux three per cent and Ian Murrell 1.5 per cent of the vote.
The counting will continue with final postal ballots being due in tomorrow, September 27 and the final count being finalised on September 30.
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