Macedon Ranges Shire has welcomed a new-look council with four returning members and five elected for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most competitive ward this election was west ward, attracting eight nominations, while east ward attracted seven and south ward five.
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West Ward retained its two long-standing councillors, Jennifer Anderson and Janet Pearce, while former councillor Mark Ridgeway did not re-nominate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, it was new candidate, Kate Kendall, who polled at top preference for the west with 38.66% of first preference votes. Anderson secured 22.18% first preference votes while Pearce had 12.33%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
East Ward experienced a complete overhaul with immediately previous representatives, Annette Death and Bill West, not re-nominating, and former councillor, Geoff Neil, not being returned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new-look ward now comprises all first-time councillors (listed in order of preferences): Cassy Borthwick (27.58%), Daniel Young (20.01%) and Andrew Scanlon (14.17%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In South Ward, all three previous sitting councillors re-nominated but only two made a return, with one of two challengers snatching the seat from former councillor Rob Guthrie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dom Bonanno and Christine Walker have been returned (listed in order of preferences), with first-time councillor Alison Joseph taking the third seat. Joseph had 20.93% of first preference votes compared to Guthrie’s 19.22%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bonanno secured 27.35% of first preference votes and Christine had 21.70%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the first time in history Macedon Ranges has had six female representatives together on council. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new councillors were officially sworn in on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mount Alexander Shire had just three unknown ward results heading into last week’s poll as a result of five uncontested seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anthony Cordy won the seat for Calder Ward, Bill Maltby was the successful candidate for Campbells Creek Ward, and Phillip Walker was voted in to represent Coliban Ward.
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Uncontested seats went to Rosie Annear (Barkers Creek Ward), Toby Heydon (Forest Creek Ward), Matt Driscoll (Loddon River Ward), Lucas Maddock (Moonlight Creek Ward), and Rosalie Hastwell (Tarrengower Ward). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These wards attracted only one candidate each and therefore did not require a public vote, with candidates automatically accepted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the first time Mount Alexander has had eight single-member wards, following structural change prior to the election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hepburn Shire welcomed councillors in its new single-ward structure. Former mayor Brian Hood, of Trentham, will return to council as a previous representative for the Coliban Ward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Voted in for the next term were (listed in order of preferences): Don Henderson, Brian Hood, Lesley Hewitt, Tony Clark, Tim Drylie, Pat Hockey and Shirley Cornish.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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