THE first batch of votes cast in the Frankston Council election have been counted.
Candidates who have previously served on council have performed strongly. Former councillors are leading the pack in six of Frankston Council’s nine wards.
On Tuesday, first preference votes were counted in the Ballam, Centenary Park, and Derinya wards. Three former councillors have emerged on top, but things may change once preferences are distributed.
In Ballam Ward, Kris Bolam has a lead of nearly 1700 votes on the first preference count. In Centenary Park, former mayor Michael O’Reilly looks likely to return to council after a four year absence. Things are a little closer in Derinya Ward – Brad Hill currently holds a 600 vote lead over Liam Hughes. In his candidate statement, Liam Hughes urged residents not to vote for him.
Votes in the Kananook, Lyrebird, and Elisabeth Murdoch wards were counted on Wednesday.
The first batch of votes shows that the race is neck-and neck in Kananook Ward, with veteran councillor Glenn Aitken narrowly ahead on the first preference count. Steffie Conroy holds a 400 vote lead on the first preference count in Lyrebird Ward as of 30 October, and Cherie Wanat looks likely to claim victory in Elisabeth Murdoch Ward.
Counting in the Pines, Yamala, and Wilton wards took place on Thursday – Sue Baker, David Asker, and Nathan Butler lead on the first preference count.
As of 30 October, the first preference counts are:
- Kananook Ward
Glenn Aitken 1717
Emily Green 1676
Lisa Stark 1346
Nathan Pither 1127
Trent Stagg 563
- Lyrebird Ward
Steffie Conroy 2840
Sam Keats 2414
Nathan Havis 2011
- Elisabeth Murdoch Ward
Stephen McDonald 2065
Cherie Wanat 3237
Suzette Tayler 1026
Henryk Kay 299
Chrysten Abraham 1438
- Ballam Ward
Kris Bolam 3205
Adam Marsal 1513
Steven Hughes 1318
Cristy Solis 1305
- Centenary Park Ward
Michael O’Reilly 3732
Maureen Rodgers 1862
Shane Osborne 1378
Andrew Cheeseman 500
- Derinya Ward
Brad Hill 2121
Liam Hughes 1532
Hans Vanderstadt 1435
Cassandra Grace 1040
Ashleigh Hoult 994
Iva Babic 441
- Pines Ward
Sue Baker 2245
Justin Turner 1882
Bernadette Graus 1022
Quinney Brownfield-Hanna 961
- Wilton Ward
David Asker 3303
Annaliese Collison 2614
Prasad Philip 987
Richard Rendell 821
- Yamala Ward
Nathan Butler 2393
Sheila Newman 1630
Alistair Wardle 1231
Gary Ebbott 825
Steve Toms 585
*This article was amended on 1 November to include updated votes for Pines, Wilton, and Yamala Wards