Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla, Bega Valley council elections: The candidates leading the race for mayor
Vote counting has resumed for the 2024 local government elections, with the leading candidates across the south coast revealed.
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The candidates leading the races to become mayor in their south coast local government areas have spoken out as counting resumed early this week.
While leading candidates in Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla and Bega Valley agreed it was too early to claim victory, latest results suggest they could soon be elected to the top job.
In Shoalhaven, current councillor Patricia White has been leading the race since counting started on Saturday evening.
With more than 85,000 registered voters in the coastal local government area, it will be some time before winners are officially declared.
However, as of Thursday afternoon, more than 62,000 votes had been counted and Mrs White is comfortably ahead with 29,054 of those votes.
Former Liberal turned independent, Jemma Tribe, trails with 22,394 votes.
Mrs Tribe has now conceded defeat to councillor White.
“While the final results haven’t been declared, it appears I will not have the opportunity to serve as mayor of Shoalhaven Council,” she said.
“I am proud to have stood up for my convictions – offering a positive alternative.
“I am so grateful to everyone that has reached out and thanked me for being a role model for women.”
Despite her strong lead and Mrs Tribe’s concession, Mrs White has still not officially declared victory.
“I’m happy with the lead I have and if it continues, I’m looking forward to rebuilding the reputation of the Shoalhaven Council,” Mrs White told this publication.
“[I’m looking forward] to getting us out of the mess we’re in and making sure we have proper transparency with residents what’s happening in council.”
Mrs White said while she could not declare victory until more votes were counted, she was “overjoyed” with how the count was proceeding.
Current results also indicate Shoalhaven Council will most likely be prominently independent members.
“We campaigned on getting major parties out of council and getting it back to independent candidates whose soul goal is to listen to residents in the community,” Mrs White said.
If elected, it will be the first time the Shoalhaven has had a new mayor in two terms, with current mayor Amanda Findley previously announcing she would not be seeking re-election.
Further south in Eurobodalla, results indicate current mayor Mathew Hatcher will return to the role.
Mr Hatcher – running as an independent – said he was feeling good, winning areas he thought would go to other candidates.
In Batemans Bay, Mr Hatcher received the majority of the vote by a large margin.
As of Thursday, more than 23,000 votes had been counted, with the current mayor holding a strong lead.
“As an independent, it’s incredibly hard to pull resources together for an election,” Mr Hatcher said.
“Website design, socials, printing, radio ads, letter box drops, design, pre polling, polling day for 17 booths, corflute hanging, hype crews, food and beverage deliver and of course, constant coffee.”
While Mr Hatcher was not ready to claim victory, trends suggest he will be re-elected convincingly.
“I’m nothing without the amazing group that surrounded me in support,” he said.
“The future of the shire is bright.”
In Bega Valley, current mayor Russell Fitzpatrick could lose his position to Labor’s Helen O’Neil as he falls to second position after more than 21,000 votes counted.
Mrs O’Neil leads the pack, telling this publication the final result was still “unclear”.
“I’m so pleased with the turn out on Saturday,” she said.
“It’ll take a few days to sort out the winner, there’s a lot of votes still to be counted.”
However, Mrs O’Neil said it was clear there was an overwhelming mood for change across the region.
“My theme was bringing leadership that listens to the community and that really came through,” she said.
Mrs O’Neil said she hoped the current voting trend continued, but it would take some time before there was a clear winner.
Vote counting continues.
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Originally published as Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla, Bega Valley council elections: The candidates leading the race for mayor
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