North Burnett mayor: Tallying of votes begins as region chooses new leader
Voting has closed and the counting of ballots in underway to determine who’ll head the North Burnett Regional Council into 2022. Here’s the latest figures:
Central & North Burnett
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Wednesday February 2, 4PM: Sitting Councillor Les Hotz remains in the lead with 1771 votes, or 35.67 per cent.
Votes for former councillor John Bowen have jumped to 1298 votes, followed by Cr Susan Payne on 924, and Cr Melinda Jones with 691 votes.
Kevin Edwards is currently on 281 votes.
Wednesday January 26, 12.15PM: With 4734 formal votes now tallied, sitting councillor Les Hotz remains ahead with 36.06 per cent of the vote, or 1707 votes.
John Bowen remains in second with 1238 votes, followed by Susan Payne on 879, Melinda Jones on 643, and Kevin Edwards on 267.
Sunday January 23, 12.30PM: The official first preference count has started to be updated, with the race between Les Hotz and John Bowen tightening.
At this stage preference flows have not been released. As voting is optional preferential, voters were able to number more than one candidate.
Cr Les Hotz remains in the lead with 1542, 36.27 per cent of the vote, followed by John Bowen on 1138.
Susan Payne remains on 774, followed by Melinda Jones with 573, and Kevin Edwards on 224.
Saturday January 22, 9.30PM: Voting has closed for the night with 4251 votes now tallied for the region’s new mayor.
Cr Hotz remains in the lead with 1,542 or 36.27 per cent of the vote, followed by John Bowen on 1138, or 26.77 per cent.
Susan Payne is sitting in third with 774 votes, followed by Melinda Jones with 573, and Kevin Edwards with 224.
Saturday January 22, 8.30PM: Sitting Councillor Les Hotz remains in the lead with 1382 votes, or 38.61 per cent.
Votes for John Bowen have jumped over the past hour, taking the former councillor into second place with 944 votes.
In third is Cr Susan Payne on 659, followed by Cr Melinda Jones with 454 votes.
Kevin Edwards is currently on 140 votes.
Saturday January 22, 7.30PM: Voting has closed and the counting of ballots in underway to determine who head the North Burnett Regional Council into 2022.
Five mayoral candidates, including three sitting councillors - Melinda Jones, Les Hotz and Susan Payne - have all thrown their hats in the ring to succeed former Mayor Rachel Chambers, who resigned suddenly last year.
Former councillor John Bowen, who served as a councillor from 2012 to 2020, and Biggenden Chamber of Commerce president, Kevin Edwards, were also nominated.
The region’s 7,200 electors voted using a full postal ballot, with counting beginning at 6pm on January 22.
It's an unprecedented election for the North Burnett Regional Council, which was formed in 2008, with prospective mayor tasked with spearheading the region out of a crippling financial crisis.
Two hours after the polls have closed, let our team catch you up with where we're at:
As of 7.30pm, 2132 formal votes have been counted, representing about 29 per cent of total enrolled voters in the region.
Sitting councillor Les Hotz has taken an early lead in the poll, with 1110 votes, or 52.06 per cent.
In second is Cr Susan Payne on 433, followed by Cr Melinda Jones with 267 votes.
John Bowen is coming in fourth with 259 votes, followed by Kevin Edwards on 63.
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