EARLY results from this year’s Gannawarra Shire Council election indicate the prospect of two new councillors for the seven-councillor municipality.
Although results will not be declared until Monday due to the ballot being conducted by post, counting in the Avoca and Murray Wards began yesterday.
Early results show that Lake Charm farmer, Charlie Gillingham is on track to claim the Avoca Ward, replacing retiring representative, Neil Gannon.
Mr Gillingham has 745 votes – 563 more than votes than Kerang machinery business owner, Rodney Hibbet after three-quarter of ballots were counted.
The successful candidate will represent the shire’s largest ward, which covers Benjeroop, Lake Charm, Lalbert, Mystic Park and Quambatook.
The result in the Murray Ward – which covers Koondrook and Murrabit – is much closer, with challenger, Steven Tasker holding a 78-vote lead over long-serving representative, Oscar Aertssen, with two-thirds of ballots counted.
Counting in the Patchell and Yarran Wards will occur during the weekend due to all ballots needing to be checked by computer, with each ward having at least two representatives.
Full provisional results information for the elections will be published between 12 noon on Friday and Sunday.
All results are provisional until the public declaration of results is held on the steps of council’s Memorial Municipal Chambers at Kerang at 12 noon on Monday.
The new council will be sworn in a council’s statutory meeting on November 4 at 5.30pm. The mayor will also be elected.
