Ballarat’s councillors confirmed

AFTER months of campaigning and weeks of voting and results tallying, the nine councillors who’ll represent the people of the City of Ballarat for the next for years have been locked in.

The cohort are mostly known quantities with incumbents Amy Johnson and Daniel Moloney re-elected in North Ward, Belinda Coates, Mark Harris and Samantha McIntosh returned in Central, while Des Hudson and Ben Taylor will once again sit in the council chamber representing South Ward.

Two sitting councillors, Grant Tillett and Jim Rinaldi, were unsuccessful in their push for re-election, replaced by former Basketball Ballarat CEO Peter Eddy in North and small business owner Tracey Hargraves in South respectively.

Ms Johnson received the highest overall vote of any candidate across all three wards and was returned with 6335 ballots, or 26.75 per cent of the total vote.

“To receive the highest number of votes across 24 candidates is a great feeling. Thanks so much to our community for your ongoing support,” she said.

“As a group we must hit the ground running to work out how we can best support businesses and our community to recover from the impacts of COVID-19.”

She also took the time to welcome the newly elected councillors.

“I’m so pleased to see Peter Eddy and Tracey Hargreaves elected. Both are highly respected community members who I believe will make absolutely fantastic councillors,” Ms Johnson said.

Long-serving councillor Des Hudson also pulled in enough primary votes to reach quota without the need of preferences.

“It was pleasing, and I want to thank everyone that voted, and for their continued support,” he said. “Eighteen year’s is a long time, but to have that renewed again for another four years is quite humbling.”

Backed by the Labor Party, Mr Hudson was part of a ticket that ran six candidates across three wards.

However, the effort failed to produce a change in results with only himself and Mr Moloney – who required a strong preference flow – being elected, meaning there’s nothing different in the party’s representation in the chamber.

“There needs to be some reflection on whether [the ticket] was the appropriate thing to do,” Mr Hudson said.

“A number of the endorsed candidates felt that they were being asked about why we were being endorsed. What that was going to mean, was it a takeover, and were we going to vote as a block. Having to justify that all the time, people were probably a bit hesitant.

“Maybe the message is party politics is not what local community is wanting.”

Green party member, and deputy-mayor for the last year of the council term, Ms Coates also made quota with 5889 first preference votes or 26.16 per cent.

Like the Labor Party, the Greens ran endorsed candidates in all wards. Ellen Burns in North Ward landed in third place after first preferences and Jackson Snepp placed fourth in South, but both failed to take a seat.

In Central Ward only Ms Coates received enough first preference votes to reach quota, which was 25 per cent of ballots plus one.

Both Mr Harris – 4090 or 18.17 per cent – and Ms McIntosh – 3886 or 17.26 per cent – needed preference flow to get across the line.

Mr Harris received strong preferences via the eliminated ALP endorsed candidates Geoff Howard and Kumuda Simpson, while Ms McIntosh subsequently defeated fourth placed Nick Shady based on Mr Harris’ surplus.

North Ward preference flow went down to the wire with Mr Eddy elected once ALP endorsed candidate Jay Morrison was eliminated from the count. Mr Morrison’s preferences also enabled Mr Moloney to leapfrog Ms Burns.

Mayor for the last year of the last term of council, Mr Taylor fell just short of quota in South Ward but was quickly elected once Susan Jacobi was eliminated from the count.

Tracey Hargraves had a longer wait and it wasn’t until Mr Rinaldi’s preferences were redistributed, she was able to claim victory over Mr Sepp.

Mr Taylor said now the election was run and done, it’s time to focus on the business of council.

“It’s a real honour to represent the community again for another four years,” he said.

“I’m really excited about the next four years and looking to working as a team in putting together a council plan and the recruitment of the new CEO.”

To see a full breakdown for the election results visit vec.vic.gov.au.