94 candidates to battle for 15 spots on new Central Coast Council

VOTERS will be confronted with a big tablecloth full of names when they go to the polls to elect the first Central Coast Council next month.

Nearly 100 people will line up to be one of 15 new councillors on the merged Central Coast Council.

VOTERS will be confronted with a big tablecloth full of names when they go to the polls to elect the first Central Coast Council next month.

A motley crew of no less than 94 people have nominated to contest the September 9 election in five wards.

The Gosford West ward alone has a Melbourne Cup-sized field of 24 runners, including 11 independents and a representative from the Animal Justice Party.

The five wards for the upcoming Central Coast Council election include Budgewoi, Wyong, The Entrance, Gosford East and Gosford West.

Nearly half of all candidates are women (45), and The Entrance has a touch of celebrity with former Australian cricketer Nathan Bracken and real estate agent Bruce McLachlan, brother of former Neighbours actor Craig McLachlan, taking to the crease as independent candidates.

And fellow independent Aaron Harpley-Carr will be looking to follow in the footsteps of his famous uncle Bob Carr, the former NSW Premier and Foreign Minister, by launching his own political career when he runs in the same ward.

There are also three married couples lining up. Greg Best has wife Maree on his independent ticket in Budgewoi, Lloyd Taylor (The Entrance) and his wife Helaine (Budgewoi) are suiting up for the Save Tuggerah Party, while Adam and Kaylene Troy will contest the Wyong ward for STL.

Ten of the former 19 Gosford and Wyong councillors are seeking election on the new council including Doug Eaton, who will run as a conservative independent after quitting the Liberal Party in disgust after a bitter preselection battle last week.

Only four former Gosford councillors are running as the blowtorch is applied on the former council over serious allegations of environmental vandalism and large-scale financial mismanagement.

The major parties will be fielding three candidates in each of the five wards including firefighter Jeff Sundstrom, who was narrowly beaten as a Labor candidate in the seat of Terrigal at the 2015 State Election.

STL will also have three candidates in the five wards, while the Greens will have 12 candidates across all wards except Wyong.

There will be 15 new councillors elected — three from each ward.

BY THE NUMBERS

94: Total number of Coast candidates

10: Former Gosford and Wyong councillors

45: Women

3: Married couples

36: Independents

15: Labor candidates

15: Liberals

15: Save Tuggerah Lakes

12: Greens

1: Animal Justice Party

Budgewoi candidates

ALP: Doug Vincent, Jillian Hogan, Rowen Turnbull

Liberals: Garry Whitaker, Clive Sargeant, Rhiannon Beckers

Independents: Greg Best, Maree Best, Amelia Best; Julie Watson, Peter Harris, Gary Blaschke, Michael McCarthy

Save Tuggerah Lakes: Helaine Taylor; Cheryl Deguara; Steve Beton

Greens: Sue Wynn; Greg Simmonds; Anna Durkin

Gosford East

ALP: Jeff Sundstrom, Victoria Collins, Jim Macfadyen

Liberals: Rebecca Gale Collins, Kerryanne Delaney, Colin Marchant

Independent: Claire Braund, Diane Bull, Danielle Habib, Jane Smith, Mitchell Lawler,

Sue Chidgey, Carol Fortey

STL: Pat Aiken, Gary Lindahl, Denis Whitnall

Greens: Stephen Pearson, Robina Sinclair, Terry Jones

Gosford West

ALP: Richard Mehrtens, Vicki Scott, Brad Ernst

Liberals: Troy Marquart, Sue Dengate, Jack Wilson

Independent: Gary Chestnut, Ferran Thornycroft, Lisa Wriley, Jean MacLeod, Chris Holstein, Lorraine Wilson, Bob Puffett, Gabby Greyem, Helen MacNair, Sarah Rimmer,

Christine Keene

STL: Carl Veugen, Daniel Johnson, John Caska

Greens: Kate da Costa, Ruth Herman, Wendy Rix

Animal Justice Party: Skyla Wagstaff

The Entrance

ALP: Lisa Matthews, Greg Ashe, Margot Castles

Liberals: Jilly Pilon, Deanna Bocking, Brian Perrem

Independent: Bruce McLachlan, Nathan Bracken, Kylie Boyle, Aaron Harpley-Carr

STL: Lloyd Taylor, Glenn Clarke, Matthew Young

Greens: Cath Connor, Doug Williamson, Barbara Gorman

Wyong

ALP: Kyle MacGregor, Ruth Punch, Narelle Rich

Liberals: Chris Burke, Kishen Napier, James Wood

Independent: Louise Greenaway, Laurie Eyes, John Wiggin, Doug Eaton, Troy Stolz,

Phil Collis, Sean Hooper

STL: Adam Troy, Kaylene Troy, Amber Davis